(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton offered the following statement regarding the unfavorable verdict reached today in civil rights lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch against Jesse Jackson on behalf of Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson.

“While the jury did not find in our favor, we are pleased that Jesse Jackson was finally held accountable for his behavior in a court of law.  The jury obviously was torn, as it was deadlocked at one point, and it took much longer than expected to reach a verdict.  The last thing Jesse Jackson wanted was to stand trial for participating in an attack against Reverend Peterson.  He employed every legal tactic at his disposal to deny Reverend Peterson his day in court, and he failed.

 

“This verdict does not speak to Jackson’s moral liability for the assault on Reverend Peterson.  After the nearly two-week long trial, there is little doubt that Jesse Jackson instigated and participated in an unprovoked attack on Reverend Peterson.  In the end, Jesse Jackson had to account for his actions to a judge and jury, and that is no small victory for justice.  As a result of this litigation, Americans are better educated about Jackson’s corruption.

 

“Reverend Peterson is to be commended for his courage in pursuing his lawsuit against Jesse Jackson.  Reverend Peterson is a man of high moral character whose life and career stand in contrast to Jesse Jackson and his long history of unethical behavior.  I also commend Judicial Watch’s legal team, which labored mightily and successfully to hold Jesse Jackson accountable under the law.”

Judicial Watch is a non-partisan educational foundation organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.  Judicial Watch is dedicated to fighting government and judicial corruption and promoting a return to ethics and morality in our nation's public life.

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