Topic: Exoneration

Leonard Allan Cure, a man who spent 16 years in prison before being exonerated in 2020, was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop in Camden County, Georgia. Reports indicate he was tasered and beaten with a baton before the shooting. The hosts review Amy Goodman's coverage of the event, noting the tragic irony of his death following his recent release and plans to attend college.

Senator Chuck Schumer uses the word "perfidy" to describe the Senate's refusal to call witnesses. Mainstream media outlets coordinate a message that a Trump acquittal without witnesses is not a true "exoneration" and will always carry an asterisk. The hosts play a montage of news anchors questioning the legitimacy of the upcoming Senate vote.

Representative Mike Turner challenged Robert Mueller on the use of the word "exonerate" in his report, noting that it is not a legal term found in the U.S. Code or Department of Justice manuals. Turner argued that because the Attorney General does not have the power to exonerate, Mueller had no authority to use the term regarding the president. The exchange highlighted that the "not exonerated" headline was a media framing rather than a standard legal determination.

Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned Attorney General William Barr regarding the concept of "exoneration" within the Mueller report. Barr argued that the Department of Justice's role is to determine if a crime was committed based on sufficient evidence, rather than to provide a formal exoneration of the subject. The exchange highlighted the tension between legal standards in the criminal justice system and the political interpretation of the Special Counsel's findings.

A New York artist previously arrested for distributing drone-related posters has been exonerated. All charges were dismissed following a determination that the search warrant used in the case was illegal.