NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will help New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, investigate allegations of police brutality at the recent protests in New York City.
Lynch, who served as attorney general up until January 2017, will act as a “special advisor” as James’ office investigates NYPD “interactions” with demonstrators during anti-police brutality protests that took place after George Floyd’s death, James’ office said Wednesday.
As part of the investigation, James has asked New Yorkers to send her “information, including visuals,” of incidents they believe constituted police brutality.
During the protests, James’ office could be seen reaching out to Twitter users who posted videos of violent interactions between police officers and demonstrators, asking them to report the incidents to her office.
Those posts included videos that showed NYPD officers hitting protesters with batons after the city’s curfew went into effect.
An NYPD officer who violently shoved a protester to the ground in Brooklyn has already been suspended without pay and charged with assault, criminal mischief, harassment and menacing, prosecutors say. An officer who pulled down a protester’s mask and pepper-sprayed him as he stood with his hands in the air has also been suspended without pay.
Barry Friedman, the founder and faculty director of the Policing Project at NYU Law, will also advise James during the investigation, her office said.
“The right to peacefully protest is one of our most basic civil rights, and we are working without rest to ensure that right is protected and guarded,” James said in a statement.
“As we continue our investigation, I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to seek answers and accountability, and that includes calling on the sharpest minds to lend their expertise.”
“There is no question that Attorney General Lynch and Professor Friedman have the experience and knowledge, and our investigation will be all the more powerful because of their support,” she added.
In her own statement, Lynch said she looked forward to working with James and her team during the investigation.
“There is no greater responsibility of government than the protection of its citizens,” she said. “It is time to examine recent events to ensure that all New Yorkers receive truly equal protection under the law.”