Topline
Louisiana’s Republican State House speaker on Monday called for an investigation into Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) after the Associated Press revealed last week that Edwards knew a Black man died after a “violent, lengthy struggle” with police but withheld that information from the public, which the speaker said could amount to an impeachable offense.
Key Facts
House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said in a statement that Edwards’ actions, or lack thereof, following the death of Ronald Greene “demonstrate gross misconduct and the highest level of deceit on behalf of the governor,” with gross misconduct being grounds for impeachment, according to the Louisiana constitution.
The AP reported Friday that Edwards received a text message from the Louisiana State Police superintendent just hours after Greene’s death in 2019, notifying the governor of a violent encounter.
After Greene's death, state police told his family and the public he had died in a car crash, and the governor largely stayed quiet about the case until the AP published body camera footage in May of 2021 showing state troopers punching Greene in the face and dragging him on the ground by his ankles while he begged for mercy.
Schexnayder said he’s spoken to Senate President Page Cortez (R) about launching an investigation, and Louisiana House Democratic Caucus Chairman Sam Jenkins told USA Today “we need to hear from” Edwards, calling the recent revelations “a serious concern.”
In a statement, Edwards’ spokeswoman Christina Stephens said the governor was notified a death took place in State Police custody out of “standard practice,” but claimed “he did not see, nor was he aware of, the videos of the arrest until much later in October of 2020.”
Crucial Quote
“What happened to Ronald Greene is inexcusable and should never happen to anyone,” Schexnayder said.
Key Background
Greene, who was 49, died in May 2019 after what police say was a high-speed chase across rural north Louisiana, but authorities have never said what led to the alleged chase. Though Edwards condemned the officers involved in Greene’s arrest and death after footage was released of the encounter, he was still suggesting as recently as September that Greene’s death might have been the result of a car crash. An FBI-ordered review of Greene’s autopsy last year ruled out that claim, determining Greene died as a result of a “physical struggle” among other factors, such as his cocaine use. A federal civil rights probe is ongoing in the case, and Greene’s family has said that police reports claiming he died in a car crash amount to a cover-up.
Tangent
Edwards comes from a family with a deep law enforcement background. Members of his family have served as sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish in southeast Louisiana for four generations, starting with his great-grandfather in 1898. Daniel Edwards, the governor’s brother, is the current sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish.
Further Reading
Possible 'deceit' by governor in Ronald Greene death warrants attention, House speaker says (The Advocate)
Governor kept mum amid conflicting accounts of deadly arrest (Associated Press)
‘He Was Tortured’: Outrage Erupts Over Videos Of Black Man’s Deadly Encounter With Louisiana Police (Forbes)
What's in a name? For John Bel Edwards it's the family ties (The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
