Pickering's Last Charge

The Dems need to sink this dishonest buck-passer once and for good.

Chip Pickering, in a news release, has blamed the Clinton administration for approving Branch's sentence "before determining the history of racial hatred and violence of all three." The senior Pickering told the Judiciary Committee last year he was unaware that Branch had fired a gun into the Polkeys' home "at the time that the plea was taken," and he chastised the government for declining to "prosecute him on that."

But the record makes clear that Pickering approved Branch's sentence on Aug. 24, 1994, three months after Swan's trial aired the allegations against all three men. In addition, the sentencing document -- which bears Pickering's signature -- included Branch's admission of guilt for the shooting.