Elijah Cummings: “this evening I will continue my discussion on a growing and often deadly plague on our society, witness intimidation.…”

“this evening I will continue my discussion on a growing and often deadly plague on our society, witness intimidation. Each day, there is a story reported about civic-minded citizens being threatened with violence or becoming victims of fire bombings or shootings, all of which are designed to prevent them from testifying to crimes that they have witnessed. Unfortunately, these tactics are working to form what has become commonly known as a ``conspiracy of silence.'' Witnesses are literally afraid for their lives. If you do not believe me, listen to these recent reports: in Newark, New Jersey, for 2 years Reginald Roe was the star and sole witness that prosecutors were relying on in a case involving an ambush gang killing in a parking lot there. Having picked two men's pictures out of a photo array and sworn before a grand jury, he said: ``I saw everything, I was there.'' But when the case came to trial, with a group of gang members glaring at him in open court, Roe changed his story, testifying that he had heard the shots, but never saw who fired them. The two suspects were acquitted.…”