I have no idea whether Washington-state resident Amanda Knox is guilty of killing her study-abroad roommate, Meredith "Mez" Kercher, or not. I have followed the trial only loosely and intermittently, and mostly only because I retain a passing interest in All Things Italian from my own travels there. What I do have an opinion on is this statement from Washington Senator Maria Cantwell:
I am saddened by the verdict and I have serious questions about the Italian justice system and whether anti-Americanism tainted this trial. The prosecution did not present enough evidence for an impartial jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Knox was guilty. Italian jurors were not sequestered and were allowed to view highly negative news coverage about Ms. Knox. Other flaws in the Italian justice system on display in this case included the harsh treatment of Ms. Knox following her arrest; negligent handling of evidence by investigators; and pending charges of misconduct against one of the prosecutors stemming from another murder trial.
The emphasis is mine. Cantwell's emphasis, I think, is on the fact that one of her constituents has been controversially convicted, and therefore, something Must Have Gone Wrong.
This is the worst kind of American behavior. It's not just exceptionalism, though that's clearly present in Cantwell's objection (this can't have been done by one of my own countrywomen!). Set aside, also, that the hypocrisy of an American Senator lecturing another country on the "harsh treatment" of a prisoner isn't going to endear us to anyone in Europe or the rest of the world. What really, really stinks of ugly Americanism is Cantwell's calculating decision to place politics above justice.
Who was this statement aimed at? Does anyone really think that Maria Cantwell is going to storm into Hillary Clinton's office, who's then going to storm into Silvio Berlusconi's office, and in so doing effect the immediate release of a smiling, innocent, cleared-of-all-charges Amanda Knox? No. So then: this statement isn't aimed at securing justice; it's not meant to get a better appeal for Amanda Knox. It is meant for the people of the state of Washington. Its goal is to remind them that, no matter where they go or what they do, their Senator will be with them.
Fine. All politics are local. Sadly, all statements released to the media are not -- and Cantwell's charge that the Italian justice system is flawed and the trial was tainted by anti-Americanism have certainly found their way to the very pool of citizens she's accusing. Rather than working to diffuse tensions between these countries, Cantwell is throwing fuel onto a dangerous blaze, in which a case best left to courts and juries could instead spark into a disagreement between nations. If her interest was justice, it would have been better served by behind-the-scenes work, not bold, generalizing statements.
Nice work, Senator.
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Catherine Forsythe
Writer to the Stars
Emily Holleman
Iron Skillet
Leslie Harpole
old new lefty
Salon.com
Comments
There really are few things more unseemly in the post-9/11 world than public expressions of American exceptionalism.
Ginny, she absolutely may be -- but I'm sticking with what I say in conclusion, that if she really believes there are flaws and that she can do something about it, announcing it to the TV news is not the way to get that done.
but those charming italian judges took the trouble to collect documentary and video evidence of activities which would convict anyone anywhere. well, except in the united states.
of course, if they were extradited, you'd have to send all of langley with them. are you sure this wouldn't be a good idea?
(That said, from what I've read, the Knox/boyfriend trial was a farce and the real murderer has long since been put in jail. The prosecutor seems to have a Satanic fixation ... and is under investigation...)
Concerning the crime, itself:
“On 20 November, Rudy Guede was arrested in Germany. A warrant had been issued for his arrest on the basis of DNA and fingerprint evidence found on the victim's body. Guede had fled to Germany following the murder. On 6 December, he was extradited to Italy.[2][3] The three suspects were held in custody in Perugia and were charged with murder, sexual assault and theft.”
And this:
“On 28 October 2008, Guede was convicted in a "fast-track" trial of conspiracy to murder Kercher.”
There was no real evidence connecting Amanda or her boyfriend to the crime. The motive presented was that Amanda’s bar-owner boss was supposedly considering hiring Meredith to replace Amanda. So we are left to believe that Amand and her boyfriend conspired with Guede the guy who actually had forensic connections to the crime scene, and killed Meredith over a job at a bar.
Regardless of Cantwell, the trial was flawed at best. I confess that I also wondered how much of the blame for this misguided conviction rests on the actions of Bush/Cheney, et al, and now, Obama’s administration.
As far as Cantwell making that statement, I also agree with you that her word choice wasn’t the best presentation. But I will credit her with at least presenting the dilemma of “…whether anti-Americanism tainted this trial.” By saying that, she left it open to interpretation about from where that “anti-Americanism” derives. That does, at least, open the door for discussion about that issue.
rated
Who the hell are we to talk about any other country when we can't keep from executing innocent citizens, ourselves? Amnesty international is in the US for a reason.
But, then again, we are talking about a White American woman against the swarthy hordes of ignorant Italians. Geez, let me go finish my Ragu alla penne.
I for one am sick and tired of any American politician using any opportunity to grandstand, as if they were the bastion of righteousness itself. Unless Ms. Cantwell spent any of her precious senatorial time looking into the misdeeds of our former president and his administration (which she hasnt) she has no right to use the mantle of authority the good people of Washington state have conferred on her to pontificate about anyone elses issues.
I hate this kind of shit - there, I said it as clearly as I could.