Though Darren Wilson was not indicted by the grand jury regarding the death of Michael Brown, the U.S. Justice Department was looking into pursuing civil rights charges against Wilson. It’s reported that the Justice Department is now recommending that no civil rights charges be brought against Wilson due to no evidence being found to support the charges during a F.B.I investigation.
In order for Wilson to have been federally charged, the Justice Department would’ve had to prove that he intended to violate Brown’s rights when he shot him and had done so willfully. The F.B.I investigation did not uncover that Wilson had any ill will when he opened fire and no new evidence was discovered.
When or if the Justice Department officially decides to not bring charges against Wilson, the case regarding the unarmed teen’s death will be closed. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. and his civil rights chief Vanita Gupta will have the final say on whether charges will be brought against Wilson or not, but they are unexpected to overrule the Justice Department’s recommendation.
Benjamin L. Crump, the Brown family’s lawyer, declined to comment or get a reaction from the family on the decision until the Justice Department makes an official statement.
“We’ve heard speculation on cases before that didn’t turn out to be true,” Mr. Crump told the New York Times. “It’s too much to put the family through to respond to every rumor.”
Wilson resigned from the Ferguson Police Department in November 2014 after receiving death threats against him and other officers.