aNewDomain — On July 29 Los Angeles Times editorial page editor Nick Goldberg received new evidence in his firing of me two days before as the paper’s editorial cartoonist and columnist: an enhanced version of the LAPD audiotape they used as key evidence against me. The new audio showed I hadn’t lied about my 2001 arrest for jaywalking after all.
I immediately contacted Goldberg with the evidence. The paper had believed the LAPD over me, but now I had proof cops were wrong.
But Times wouldn’t respond. It seemed to be in lockdown mode. Editors haven’t returned reporters’ calls or answered questions. Goldberg’s email tells senders he’s on “vacation.” The newspaper shut down new comments on the “A Note to Readers” announcing my firing; before that, some readers complained that their comments were deleted.
But now, nearly two weeks later, The Los Angeles Times has broken its silence.
Yesterday I received an email from Jeff Glasser, in-house counsel for the Times. Attached to Glasser’s email was a PDF — the following letter:
In light of the audio enhancement that validates my account, I’d asked the Times to issue a retraction and apology, and to restore my cartoons and essays to the Opinion Pages.
Yesterday, the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists issued a statement calling for an independent investigation of the police audiotape. The AAEC said:
“An impartial review of the tape of this incident is badly needed in this case … 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.”
“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.”
For aNewDomain and the new SkewedNews satire site, I’m Ted Rall.
For further reading, check out these links:
“We have found nothing that changes our original conclusions, or that would justify a retraction.”
SERIOUSLY?????
I’d have to admit I am not hearing what ted is hearing.