Hennepin CA Mike Freeman responds to Sen. Klobuchar’s call for an independent investigation
“Friends, This is an interesting turn of events. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has now responded to Senator Amy Klobuchar’s call for an independent investigation into Myon Burrell’s case by requesting an independent review by the Department of Justice. On the one hand, this is a completely different response and tone from Mike Freeman’s office than the one he gave a couple of weeks ago. While on the other hand, this move by him could be perceived as him passing the buck to an entity that currently falls under the Trump administration.
It is my firm belief that Mike Freeman’s office should be willing to put forward the resources for an independent investigation by a credible agency outside the state of Minnesota. I also believe that Freeman needs to set up a conviction integrity unit as both the ACLU and the NAACP have called for. As a community, we must continue to put pressure on Mike Freeman until Myon Burrell is free. It is clear that he doesn’t care about justice.” – Nekima Levy-Armstrong. Civil Rights Attorney, Former President of the NAACP Minneapolis.
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News release
For immediate release
March 9, 2020
Contact: Lacey Severins, Media Coordinator, 612-543-4733
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County Attorney Requests Justice Department Burrell Review
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has asked Sen. Amy Klobuchar to request the U.S. Department of Justice undertake the review of the Myon Burrell conviction in the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Monday.
In response to a letter Sen. Klobuchar sent to the office Mar. 5, Freeman noted that only the Department of Justice would have the resources to independently review a case that includes 30,000 pages of documents plus videotaped evidence.
Freeman also stressed in his letter that not only would his office cooperate with any review by the DOJ but his office would continue the most recent internal review of the case which began about seven months ago. That has included several meetings with Mr. Burrell’s new attorney and an agreement to review additional information which he provided.
In the letter, Freeman also mentioned that there are Minnesota Supreme Court opinions and a district court order which both detail the evidence and testimony in the two trials in which Mr. Burrell was found guilty. Those filings provide a full picture of why he was found guilty and why, ultimately, his conviction was upheld.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County Attorney's Office website.