#Loretta Lynch tapped to lead state attorney general’s NYPD probe

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Former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

The New York Attorney General has enlisted former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch to probe violent clashes between the NYPD and George Floyd protesters, the office announced Wednesday.

“The right to peacefully protest is one of our most basic civil rights, and we are working without rest to ensure that right is protected and guarded,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “As we continue our investigation, I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to seek answers and accountability, and that includes calling on the sharpest minds to lend their expertise.”

James — who announced last month that her office would look into police behavior during the recent protests over the Minneapolis cop-brutality death of George Floyd — said that former US Attorney General Lynch and New York University Professor Barry Friedman would both be Special Advisors during the probe.

During her tenure at the Department of Justice, Lynch led investigations into several police departments over potential misconduct.

Notably, Lynch investigated the Chicago Police Department following the death of Laquan McDonald finding the department regularly used “unjustified” and “excessive” force which spurred reforms and community input.

“It is time to examine recent events to ensure that all New Yorkers receive truly equal protection under the law. I look forward to working with Attorney General James and her outstanding team on these important issues,” Lynch said.

The NYPD did not immediately return a request for comment.

Additional reporting Tina Moore