Butterfield Statement on Ruling to Deny Release of Body-Camera Footage of Fatal Police Shooting of Andrew Brown, Jr.

Statement

Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released a statement on Judge Foster's ruling to deny the release of body-camera footage in the fatal police shooting of Andrew Brown, Jr.:

"I'm disappointed that Judge Jeff Foster declined to immediately release the video footage of the police shooting of Andrew Brown, Jr. This footage is a public record and there does not appear to be legal justification for withholding it from the public," said Butterfield. "Police shootings in America are now an epidemic. The public is losing confidence in our law enforcement and criminal justice system. That's why Governor Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein, and the Pasquotank County Sheriff have all called for immediate release of the video footage. Further, the State Bureau of Investigation does not object to its release. I call on Judge Foster to reconsider his decision to withhold this important information from the public. By withholding the video from public inspection while the investigation is ongoing only leads to suspicion and further erosion of the public's confidence in our justice system."

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