The Justice Department has said it is "committed to comprehensive and vigorous enforcement of both the civil and criminal provisions of the federal laws that prohibit voter intimidation."
The Civil Rights Commission, in its letter, said testimony and affidavits it has received suggest "a broad culture of hostility to race-neutral enforcement of the civil rights laws," and asked Mr. Holder for "a thorough investigation and specific confirmation, refutation or detailed explanations … that the laws are properly enforced without regard to race."
In its letter, the commission also asked Mr. Holder:
• To waive any purported privilege that might apply to the commission's requests and promptly supply all the documents, e-mails and other material that have been withheld.
• To instruct Mr. Coates, Mr. Adams and other current or former employees who may come forward with similar information or accounts of malfeasance that they may testify freely.
• To instruct all other department employees the commission may subpoena to cooperate fully by turning over all responsive documents and testifying without restraint.
A civil complaint had been filed in the New Black Panther Party case by the voting rights section in January 2009 in Philadelphia after two of its members in black berets, black combat boots, black shirts and black jackets purportedly intimidated voters with racial insults, slurs and a nightstick. A third party member was accused of managing, directing and endorsing their behavior. The incident was captured on videotape.
Four months later, the Justice Department dropped the charges, saying "the facts and the law did not support pursuing" them.
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