STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS R. ALEXANDER ACOSTA AND U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA DEBRA W. YANG REGARDING THE INGLEWOOD CASE:

“Since this incident occurred, the Justice Department has been following the progress of the state investigation and prosecution of this case. In light of today's announcement by the District Attorney, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, working in close coordination with prosecutors in the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, will review all the evidence in this case - including the transcripts of the two state trial proceedings - to determine if any federal action may be warranted. This review, which may include additional investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will be careful, fair and thorough.”

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04-074