Frank Taaffe Testified Before Federal Grand Jury

It happened today around noon EST.  Before entering the courthouse, Frank Taaffe spoke with reporters.

Frank Taaffe is a former vocal supporter of George Zimmerman, who felt no shame using racial slurs and denigrating the Black race.  Today, he appeared before the federal grand jury.

Frank Taaffe

The FBI began investigating George Zimmerman in or about April 2012.  To the State of Florida, they released interviews of individuals, some of whom testified of Zimmerman’s racial animus and others who did not.   Because of that George Zimmerman’s supporters assumed that the FBI closed its investigation.  However, pre-trial, Zimmerman’s defense attorney, Mark O’Mara, attempted to get the FBI’s file on Zimmerman and was told in open court that the investigation was ongoing.

In September 2013, I posted an article on how the Department of Justice prosecutes hate crimes, supported by the statements and experience of Benjamin B. Wagner, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California.

U.S. Attorney Wagner wrote;

“Because establishing motive is a key aspect to proving the crime, investigations often must range far beyond the criminal act itself to locate evidence relevant to the defendant’s state of mind before and during the crime.”

It has always been my impression that the FBI investigated for this evidence and finding same, have taken before a federal grand jury.

Today, the Orlando Sentinel reports;

“Before entering the courthouse, Taaffe spoke to reporters, offering a complete about-face from his original stance on the case. Asked why his views had changed, Taaffe’s reply was blunt: “Death.” Taaffe explained both of his sons died recently, leading him to reflect on the loss felt by Trayvon’s parents. “This is a young man who didn’t deserve to die,” Taaffe said.”

The Orlando Sentinel reached George Zimmerman, but he would not comment on Taaffe’s statements.

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Trayvon Martin’s family, stated that the family always believed that Zimmerman profiled Trayvon.

“This is what we said before Frank Taaffe’s testimony to the grand jury, this is what we said all along, and we’re grateful that the grand jury will get to hear it,” Crump said.

“If there’s a young man that’s not doing anything but talking on the phone, in the rain, sauntering about, let it go. You know, that’s why we have law enforcement…. let them handle it,” Taffee said.

Taaffe also told reporters that he anticipated being questioned about a phone call he received days before Zimmerman’s arrest from someone who claimed to be Zimmerman and made a “racial comment” about the case. Taaffe stated that the call came from an unknown number, so he couldn’t be 100 percent sure it was Zimmerman.

Taaffe also told reporters that FBI agents asked him about comments he made while Zimmerman’s jury was deliberating. Taaffe claimed to have been tipped off about the jury’s discussions, which are supposed to be secret. He did not tell reporters how he received the tip.