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AAEC calls for independent investigation into LAPD tape used to fire Rall

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Alan Gardner August 11, 2015 1 minute 1 comment

The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) has released a statement calling for an independent investigation of the audio tape that the LAPD provided to the LA Times that resulted in the newspaper’s decision to end its relationship with columnist and cartoonist Ted Rall.

Here’s the full statement:

The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists board calls for an independent investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department?s tape of former AAEC president and member Ted Rall’s jaywalking stop in 2001. An impartial review of the tape of this incident is badly needed in this case.

Determining the truth in this matter is important to Mr. Rall’s personal and professional reputation, and to the rights of journalists to freely express themselves. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Times should have demanded a higher standard of proof in this matter, and it is clear that Mr. Rall is owed a full and complete analysis of the 14 year old tape used to make a judgment about his actions.

Should an independent investigation determine that Mr. Rall?s version of the events is accurate, we call upon the Los Angeles Times to publicly apologize, and make restitution. If it is also determined that the Los Angeles Police Department or a member of the police union manipulated the tape, as Mr. Rall alleges, they also owe Mr. Rall an apology and restitution.

I completely agree. For any resolution to come of this, an independent investigation is in order.