President Obama said Friday that “justice needs to be served” in the case of six Baltimore police officers charged with manslaughter in the death of Freddie Gray.
In brief comments to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr. Obama said it would be “not be appropriate” for him to comment on legal proceedings but added that it’s “absolutely vital that the truth comes out” about what happened.
“I can tell you that justice needs to be served,” Mr. Obama said. “All the evidence needs to be presented. What I think the people of Baltimore want more than anything else is the truth. That’s what people around the country expect.”
The president said new Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other Justice Department officials are in touch with Baltimore officials “to make sure that any assistance we can provide on the investigation is provided.”
“Those individuals who are charged obviously are also entitled to due process and rule of law,” the president said. “So I want to make sure that our legal system runs the way it should.”
The president has resisted calls to visit Baltimore. Earlier this week, he criticized the “thugs” who rioted in the streets but also criticized police for continued violent treatment of minority suspects.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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