Federal civil rights law allows the US government
to bring a criminal case against a government official who uses that position to
deprive someone of his civil rights.
U.S. Attorney for New York Mary Jo White has said
that she, along with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department,
would review evidence in the Diallo case to decide if there were any federal
civil rights violations.
Leaders including U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, Rev. Al
Sharpton and New York City Public Advocate Mark Green have joined Diallo's
parents in calling for a federal probe of the case and
trial.
