PROJECT SAVE JUSTICE
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PRESS RELEASE
The Political Prosecutions of Karl Rove
A Documentary Record
Project Save Justice and world renowned film maker John McTiernan announce the release of The Political Prosecutions of Karl Rove, a video documentation of the systematic prosecution of Democrats by the Bush Justice Department. Drawing inspiration from the Shields Report, a 2007 and 2009 academic analysis showing that during the Bush years, the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted seven times more Democrats than Republicans, the hour long film delves deeper than the few high profile cases that have caught the attention of the mainstream media, and instead sheds light on many of the 600 cases brought against Democrats across the country between 2002 and 2008.
In the hands of McTiernan, director of the Hollywood blockbusters, Predator, The Hunt for Red October, and the Die Hard trilogy, The Political Prosecutions of Karl Rove offers a documented record of the pervasive misuse of the Justice Department. Sadly, as the film documents, Democrats were targeted at all levels of the system and in many states across the country. The film reveals startling evidence supporting the use of the U.S. Department of Justice to create a permanent Republican majority. In fact, statistics show that in the 15 months leading up to the 2008 general election, indictments of elected Democrats increased by nearly 50%. The soul-stirring documentary offers convincing evidence to indicate that a vigorous and comprehensive strategy was pursued to
attack lower levels of the Democratic Party designed to completely uproot and undermine any challenges to Republican political power.
This film serves to highlight the issue of selective enforcement of the law; the same body of work that has already been widely publicized in print form, now comes packaged in a powerful and compelling "first person" interview style format. Listen as chilling personal accounts of corruption, coercion, and deception on the part of those entrusted with enforcing the law are revealed.
Puerto Rico's Governor Acevedo comes under attack soon after the midterm elections. Following Acevedo's election, a politically motivated campaign to unseat him was pursued by members of the DOJ. Many around the Governor were indicted and a Bush appointed Judge was flown in to try the case and delayed rulings on the soundness of the case until after Acevedo had lost his reelection bid. After the damage was done, 15 charges were thrown out and Acevedo was acquitted on all remaining charges.
Another account of political profiling by the DOJ was revealed in the story of Meg Scott Phipps, the daughter and granddaughter of two former North Carolina Governors. Phipps was thought to be eyeing a candidacy for governor when she was charged with 30 separate felonies related to campaign contributions at a state fair. The U.S. Attorney indicted or threatened nearly everyone associated with Phipps, including her 75-year old father. Once Phipps was in custody, she was kept incommunicado for nearly three weeks, by moving her from multiple jails in several states, until she finally pleaded guilty to lesser charges. The Republican judge found nothing improper with this action and gave Phipps the maximum sentence of three years in prison. All witnesses testifying
against Phipps had been indicted and were promised indemnity for their testimony.
The Political Prosecutions of Karl Rove concludes with a riveting "where are they now" segment, revealing a myriad of Republican U.S. Attorneys, judges, and elected officials who have since made millions as partners in prestigious law firms or who were promoted to higher judicial office, while their politically profiled victims are left destitute or serving out the remainder of their unjust jail sentences.
The Political Prosecutions of Karl Rove goes deeper than any other media account to date into the widespread corruption of the Justice system under the Bush administration. You may think you know what happened and to whom, but The Political Prosecutions of Karl Rove provides unshakeable proof that the crimes of our Government were more egregious than ever thought and the work to earnestly right these unspeakable wrongs is yet to even begin.
Copies of the video & interviews can be requested at media@projectsavejustice.com
The film can be viewed at www.politicalprosecutions.org <http://www.politicalprosecutions.org/>
