House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that he hasn’t ruled out holding congressional hearings on the circumstances surrounding the police killing of Eric Garner.
“The American people deserve more answers about what really happened here,” the Ohio Republican said, Buzzfeed reported. “And was our system of justice handled properly?”
The Department of Justice is launching its own investigation into the death of Garner, who was seen on video being placed in an apparent headlock or chokehold by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo during an arrest on July 17. A grand jury decided Wednesday not to indict Officer Pantaleo in Garner’s death, which sparked a wave of protests.
Buzzfeed notes that Mr. Boehner’s comments differ from those by fellow Republican Reps. Michael Grimm and Peter King.
Mr. Grimm said in a statement that he has “full faith” that the grand jury’s decision was “fair and reasoned.”
And Mr. King reminded New Yorkers Wednesday that they should “respect the decision of the Staten Island grand jury not to indict NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo.”
“During this tense time in New York, it must be noted and remembered that no organization has done more to safeguard the lives of young African Americans in New York City than the NYPD,” he wrote on Facebook.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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