1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on. Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,480 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,719 my daily show prep with all of the links, become 6 00:00:18,719 --> 00:00:22,359 a patron, go to thepeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,920 hit the subscribe button. Get every episode for free right 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,320 to your smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so 9 00:00:27,399 --> 00:00:31,879 much for your support. Last hour we talked to Joe Bruno. Well, 10 00:00:31,879 --> 00:00:35,079 in the last half hour of the show, we talked 11 00:00:35,079 --> 00:00:37,880 to Joe Bruno from WSOCTV. And I want to go 12 00:00:38,679 --> 00:00:42,159 a little bit more in depth on one aspect of 13 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,960 this story. Okay, that's a lie. I'm probably going to 14 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:46,799 go in depth on more of it, but I want 15 00:00:46,799 --> 00:00:49,280 to start off with this one aspect of this story 16 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,600 about the Charlotte Mecklaburg police chief Johnny Jennings is reportedly 17 00:00:55,039 --> 00:01:01,759 contemplating suing the city for half a million dollars, claiming 18 00:01:02,719 --> 00:01:07,640 that a city councilman now off the council because he's 19 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:12,560 working for the Trump administration. Tark Bakari. This is the 20 00:01:12,599 --> 00:01:17,200 councilman's name, that tarc Bakari maligned him to such a 21 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:22,200 degree that his reputation was damaged, and he has apparently 22 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,640 put that price tag at half a million dollars. I 23 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,319 don't know how he comes up with that number. I 24 00:01:27,359 --> 00:01:31,920 don't know what reputational harm he actually did suffer. I 25 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:37,239 had completely forgotten about the whole brew haha over the 26 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:43,840 police vests because in the grand scheme of things, it 27 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,799 really like it didn't matter, unless, of course, somebody had 28 00:01:47,799 --> 00:01:50,560 their feelings hurt because they lost on the issue, which 29 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,920 Jennings did, because he did eventually cave and say, fine, 30 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,200 I will let if officers want to get these vests, 31 00:01:58,239 --> 00:02:00,400 they will be permitted to get them. But he's not 32 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,640 going to force everybody to wear the vest. And the 33 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,640 only reason was aesthetics. That was it you're going to 34 00:02:07,719 --> 00:02:12,919 look too militarized, which is something that the leftists say. 35 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,840 It's just a vest. You could put your stuff in it, 36 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,319 you wear it on the outside, and you put your 37 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:23,120 flashlight in it, your handcuffs and your notepad, you your smartphone, 38 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,159 whatever you can, so it's all it's easily accessible. And 39 00:02:26,199 --> 00:02:28,280 these cops were asking for this vest and they were 40 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,000 being told no, and so Tark Bacary says, well, they 41 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:32,960 should be able to get these vests, and Chief Jennings 42 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:39,800 is like no, and in text messages, Councilman Bacary pleads 43 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,520 with him, urging him please let these guys have these vests. 44 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,800 And if not, like, I'm going to launch a campaign 45 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,360 for this and it's going to get you know, it's 46 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,080 going to get some traction and it's not going to 47 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:57,960 be good for you. And the Yeah, the report here, 48 00:02:58,599 --> 00:03:02,199 let me start with WFAE. They reported that the council 49 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,479 was considering giving Jennings up to three hundred thousand dollars 50 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,919 following text messages that then Councilman tarc Bookari sent him 51 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,319 in twenty twenty four when the council member was at 52 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,599 odds with the Chief over the type of bulletproof vests 53 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,599 that should be issued to CMPD officers. WFAE published those 54 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:24,120 text messages in November. In May, Bakari told Jennings that quote, 55 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:29,280 whatever happens from this point forward is not personal, and 56 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,879 Jennings responded, as long as you stick to that, we 57 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,120 are fine. Just know that I don't plan on sitting 58 00:03:35,199 --> 00:03:39,240 on my hands either. Okay, So, like they're telling each other. 59 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,479 Game on, These cops need to have these vests, and 60 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:49,120 Jennings is saying, no, they don't. And Bakari, as a 61 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,199 member of council, but albeit one of only two Republicans 62 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,360 so a distinct minority on council, doesn't really have any 63 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,439 power to force CMPD to do this unless he can 64 00:03:59,479 --> 00:04:02,360 convince a majority of the city Council to do it, 65 00:04:02,759 --> 00:04:06,800 which he can't. He did not have the pull to 66 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,319 get all of those Democrats on council to vote with 67 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,840 him on this over their police chief. They just wouldn't 68 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:17,720 do it. So what has he left with? A public 69 00:04:17,879 --> 00:04:21,240 pressure campaign? And so he's telling Jennings, this is what 70 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,079 I'm going to do, and Jennings says, that's fine. As 71 00:04:24,079 --> 00:04:27,040 long as you don't make it personal. That's fine. But 72 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,120 I'm not going to be holding back either, So game on, okay. 73 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,040 So Bookari criticizes Jennings in an interview on WC and 74 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,439 CTV about the vests. A couple of weeks later, in July, 75 00:04:40,399 --> 00:04:43,519 he also texted Jennings and told him he made a 76 00:04:43,639 --> 00:04:47,639 terrible error in judgment. My friend, I hate what comes next. 77 00:04:47,759 --> 00:04:51,879 So this is would I have sent this message? No, 78 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,959 I would actually not be sending any messages. This is 79 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:02,319 not how I operate. I go on the radio, I 80 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,439 would not I would not be telling you like, oh 81 00:05:05,439 --> 00:05:07,879 what's coming next? Oh you should have done this? Oh 82 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,759 like I'm not smack talking in text messages to you. 83 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,160 I will lay out my case on the air or 84 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:19,319 to your face. The former council member texted Jennings to 85 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,720 tell him he planned on hammering Jennings. It's a quote 86 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,519 in the press and political circles. Andy said he would 87 00:05:26,519 --> 00:05:29,199 not stop, and it will cripple your legacy. You've worked 88 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,920 so hard for it. This has Hunter Biden vibes. I'm sorry, 89 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,079 but it does. Remember the Hunter Biden text message where 90 00:05:35,079 --> 00:05:37,639 he was trying to get the Chinese guy to pay off, 91 00:05:38,079 --> 00:05:40,680 and he's like, you know, you will learn no one 92 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,199 holds a grudge like a Biden or whatever it was. 93 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,759 Bacari texted Jennings, you have thirty six hours to call 94 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,920 it all off by compromising in some small way. Otherwise 95 00:05:52,199 --> 00:05:55,360 it's in God's hands. So I don't know what that's about. 96 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,600 I don't know what the calling it all off? What 97 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:00,800 is all? I don't know what is he? What is 98 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:06,600 Bakari referring to to call what all off is Jennings 99 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,759 whipping up votes against Bakari? Is this about a complaint, 100 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:17,319 an ethics complaint that the NAACP filed against Bakari over this? 101 00:06:17,879 --> 00:06:20,839 So where my mind goes, If I'm just connecting some 102 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,279 dots right in a Charlie Day kind of way, I'm 103 00:06:24,319 --> 00:06:29,040 thinking Jennings and the NAACP and maybe some people over 104 00:06:29,079 --> 00:06:32,720 at CMPD. Are they coordinating with the NAACP to file 105 00:06:32,759 --> 00:06:37,000 the ethics complaint in order to get Bookari to stand down? 106 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,879 When Jennings says, I'm not sitting on my hands either, 107 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,439 does he call the NAACP. Does he text with Reverend 108 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,399 curin mac We'll work with you on some language for 109 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:51,680 the ethics complaint. So now we can get an ethics 110 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,680 complaint against Bokary and we can bring some pressure on him. 111 00:06:54,959 --> 00:06:57,120 He may be able to bring a pressure campaign in 112 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,720 the media against me, but I can go after him 113 00:07:00,879 --> 00:07:04,600 on an ethics violation. Is that what happened? I don't know. 114 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,680 I would be very clear. I am simply spitball in 115 00:07:07,759 --> 00:07:10,439 here because there are a lot of there are a 116 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,560 lot of pieces of information that are not available. We 117 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:17,480 have a lot of gaps in our knowledge. All I 118 00:07:17,519 --> 00:07:19,959 can go by is what's in the in the the 119 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,519 reports I have in front of me. Jennings never responded 120 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,439 to that text. He did eventually compromise, which is what 121 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:33,560 Bakari was asking for in that text message, to compromise 122 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:37,439 in some small way, and the compromise was that the 123 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,160 city wasn't paying for the vest. Bakari then raised the 124 00:07:40,199 --> 00:07:46,759 money privately, and then Jennings said, fine, if people requested 125 00:07:46,879 --> 00:07:50,680 they can, they can get one. And that's how it ended. 126 00:07:51,959 --> 00:07:57,920 But meanwhile, behind the scenes, people's feelings got hurt. That's 127 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,160 what this looks like, because I would need to see 128 00:08:01,199 --> 00:08:06,319 some actual damages to reputation that Jennings suffered because of that, 129 00:08:06,319 --> 00:08:12,399 that public disagreement. And honestly, in a city and in 130 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:17,399 a county as Democrat as we are, why would Tark 131 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:22,040 Bakari's comments cause you enough reputational damage to warrant half 132 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:24,800 a million dollars. You didn't lose your job, right, I 133 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,439 don't think he got denied any raises or anything. There 134 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,120 wasn't it. There were no penalties here. What were the damages? 135 00:08:33,759 --> 00:08:36,480 To me? That seems a pretty important piece of it. 136 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:38,799 And I don't like the idea that you come in 137 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,080 and you say, I'm considering suing, so maybe you should 138 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:45,600 just pay me now. No, maybe you should draw up 139 00:08:45,639 --> 00:08:49,279 the freaking complaints, sir. Maybe that's the first step. Put 140 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,639 your stuff in writing, let's hear exactly what it is 141 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,799 you've got to say, and then the city would be 142 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,759 in a position, with the advice of a lawyer, to say, 143 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,759 this is a pretty good argument that he's making. Let's 144 00:09:03,759 --> 00:09:07,879 avoid litigation, and then you settle. You don't settle before 145 00:09:07,919 --> 00:09:10,720 you even file a lawsuit. You don't settle before you 146 00:09:10,799 --> 00:09:14,480 even lay out the allegations and put it on paper 147 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:20,080 so everybody can understand what the evidence is. You have 148 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:26,320 to give people some sort of a summary, make the allegations. 149 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:28,639 They do not have to be public. You can do 150 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,799 it all in closed session. It's an a turning client privilege. 151 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,720 I'm fine with that, but you got to put this down. 152 00:09:32,919 --> 00:09:36,759 Simply threatening a lawsuit and then getting paid out. That 153 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,519 looks shady. It looks really really shady to me. Again, 154 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,360 I don't have all the information because you guys control 155 00:09:45,399 --> 00:09:47,159 all the information and you're keeping it from me so 156 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:50,039 and everybody else. So all I can tell you is 157 00:09:50,039 --> 00:09:52,440 what it looks like from the outside. All right, So 158 00:09:52,519 --> 00:09:55,960 spring is here a time of renewal and celebrations. You've 159 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,679 got graduations, weddings, anniversaries, in the special days for mom 160 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:01,960 and day. Your family's making memories that are going to 161 00:10:02,039 --> 00:10:04,639 last a lifetime. 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I 181 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,200 simply ask, what is the evidence that reputational damage was 182 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:34,759 actually suffered? Because if it's just your feeling, that's not 183 00:11:34,799 --> 00:11:39,279 worth half a million dollars. Let's go over to the 184 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:41,759 phones and chat with Spencer. Hey, Spencer, how are you? 185 00:11:42,759 --> 00:11:43,799 Speaker 2: How are you doing? Pete good? 186 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:44,279 Speaker 1: What's up? 187 00:11:45,399 --> 00:11:49,159 Speaker 2: I thought there was another issue in this whole thing. 188 00:11:50,279 --> 00:11:53,240 The four officers that got killed in that shootout where 189 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:57,200 the guy was in the upstairs window shooting the rifle. 190 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:02,759 All of those officers were work and vests that would 191 00:12:02,759 --> 00:12:06,639 protect against pistol rounds and they could be worn under 192 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:13,159 your uniform. But the vest that protects against rifle rounds 193 00:12:13,879 --> 00:12:16,279 was so heavy and had plates in it. They had 194 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:22,600 to be worn on the outside. And that's why Jennings 195 00:12:22,639 --> 00:12:24,799 didn't want them to wear it, because it would make 196 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:30,360 their uniforms look like they were you know, militaristic. But 197 00:12:30,639 --> 00:12:36,159 I would suggest that had the pistol round protection vest 198 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,039 been kind of bulky and had to be worn on 199 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,840 the outside, that Jennings would not let them wear the 200 00:12:43,039 --> 00:12:44,039 original vest. 201 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: Any vest at all. Yeah, I don't know if the Yeah, 202 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,639 I'm not sure. I do seem to recall a couple 203 00:12:50,639 --> 00:12:53,000 of things. Well, Number one, I do seem to recall 204 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,759 your description there about the rifle pistol round vest differences. 205 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:02,159 Number two, though I recall correctly the officers that were 206 00:13:02,279 --> 00:13:06,360 killed were Marshall's office. Uh, they weren't CMPD if I 207 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:07,159 remember correctly. 208 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:13,159 Speaker 2: But still it goes that, right, the difference in the 209 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,720 best made him look militaristic. 210 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: Right and so right, So that was the third thing. 211 00:13:18,879 --> 00:13:23,600 And then is that either way the the It always 212 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:27,519 comes back to the aesthetics of the vest being the issue. 213 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,559 Speaker 2: And yeah, and that's why I said. That's why I said, 214 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,679 if the pistol pistol around best was bulky like that 215 00:13:34,759 --> 00:13:36,360 and had to be worn on the outside, I don't 216 00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:38,000 think Jennings would have let him wear those. 217 00:13:38,519 --> 00:13:40,759 Speaker 1: Yeah, he might not have. Yeah, for all I know, 218 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,320 he may not have. I don't know, or maybe said no, 219 00:13:43,399 --> 00:13:45,279 there's some other thing to wear, and that's got even 220 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,080 less protection as long as it goes under the uniform. 221 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,759 It's a it's a good question. I don't know the 222 00:13:50,799 --> 00:13:54,879 answer now. And here's another thing, on the reputational harm 223 00:13:55,399 --> 00:13:58,639 that he allegedly suffered. You know, I'm not aware of 224 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,679 any political harm that he suffer in Charlotte Mecklenberg. But 225 00:14:02,759 --> 00:14:07,320 maybe there's something going on inside of the police department ranks, right, 226 00:14:07,799 --> 00:14:10,039 the rank and file may have a different opinion of 227 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,440 him now because of this fight. That's possible too. But 228 00:14:13,519 --> 00:14:17,120 is that Bakari's fault or is that jennings fault for 229 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,919 taking the position he took based on purely aesthetics? 230 00:14:22,519 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 2: That's right, Yeah, Spencer. 231 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:25,919 Speaker 1: I appreciate the call about he got to hear from you, 232 00:14:26,519 --> 00:14:31,320 all right, So yeah, I try to think through the 233 00:14:31,399 --> 00:14:37,919 different angles on stories and issues, and so if I'm 234 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,200 like trying to scratch my head and think, okay, what 235 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:48,840 damage could he have suffered? I really cannot imagine local 236 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:54,639 Democrat politicians taking a dim view of Chief Johnny Jennings 237 00:14:54,919 --> 00:14:57,799 over this issue in a fight with Tark Bakari that 238 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,679 probably ninety nine some of the Democrat politicians in our 239 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:07,039 area don't like. They don't like Bakari. So if anything, 240 00:15:07,399 --> 00:15:10,440 it feels like they would be happy that you're pushing 241 00:15:10,519 --> 00:15:14,120 back on Bookari because they don't like him. Now maybe 242 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,799 at the state level, maybe different for politicians up there. 243 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,960 But so that's, you know, one part of it. 244 00:15:20,039 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 3: Now. 245 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: The other part of it is the public. What's the 246 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,840 public perception of him? I don't know how he would 247 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,840 know if he suffered reputational harm among the public. Did 248 00:15:28,879 --> 00:15:31,080 they put out some polling or something on this issue, 249 00:15:33,279 --> 00:15:36,720 or maybe it could be with his own officers, because 250 00:15:36,759 --> 00:15:40,440 his officers are asking for these vests that are better 251 00:15:40,519 --> 00:15:43,960 for them. I don't know if they provide more protection. 252 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:49,120 I don't believe it did, but maybe they do. And 253 00:15:49,159 --> 00:15:53,639 if he's saying no, I could easily see some law 254 00:15:53,720 --> 00:16:00,440 enforcement officers CMPD officers, you know, getting a little, hmmm, 255 00:16:01,799 --> 00:16:06,240 taking some umbrage. Let's say they may take some umbrage 256 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,200 that their boss will not allow them to have a 257 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,279 better vest, even if it means that they could survive 258 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:18,639 a shootout. Because the boss is more interested in looks 259 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:24,240 right than officer protection. I could see that being a 260 00:16:24,279 --> 00:16:27,759 problem for him. Yeah, definitely, But again, I have no 261 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,080 evidence of that because there hasn't been any evidence laid 262 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,320 out for us. But we do have evidence that there 263 00:16:33,399 --> 00:16:38,320 was communication going on between CMPD and the local NAACP 264 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:44,759 about filing an ethics complaint against Bakari. Why would the 265 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:50,879 NAACP ask CMPD to file an ethics complaint before she 266 00:16:50,919 --> 00:16:55,679 files the ethics complaint? What would you need from CMPD 267 00:16:55,799 --> 00:17:00,679 to do that unless you're doing it for them? Is 268 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:06,359 that possible? That could be possible. See, I'm just I'm 269 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,640 just asking questions. I'm just testing theories. Here's a great idea. 270 00:17:10,759 --> 00:17:13,519 How about making an escape to a really special and 271 00:17:13,559 --> 00:17:16,759 secluded getaway in western North Carolina. Just a quick drive 272 00:17:16,839 --> 00:17:19,599 up the mountain and Cabins of Asheville is your connection. 273 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:23,000 Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want 274 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,559 to plan a memorable proposal, or get family and friends 275 00:17:25,559 --> 00:17:28,519 together for a big old reunion. 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Call or text eight two eight 289 00:18:15,039 --> 00:18:18,279 three six seven seventy sixty eight or check out all 290 00:18:18,279 --> 00:18:20,920 there is to offer at Cabins of Aashville dot com 291 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,839 and make memories that'll last a lifetime. Thank you, Jason, 292 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:31,440 he sent me a tweet. Joshua Eyer. He was CMPD 293 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,279 so one of the four agents law enforcement officers that 294 00:18:35,319 --> 00:18:39,759 were murdered while serving the warrant in East Charlotte last 295 00:18:39,839 --> 00:18:43,640 year last April twenty ninth, was CMPD officer. I guess 296 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,759 two were Marshall's office, and then there was another one 297 00:18:45,799 --> 00:18:50,680 from the state that was there serving the warrant. If 298 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:55,519 five recall correctly. At Patriot Girl says Chief Jennings, attempt 299 00:18:55,519 --> 00:18:59,160 to extort thousands from the taxpayers is outrageous. He should 300 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,200 resign and discrebs immediately. As a taxpayer of Mecklenberg County, 301 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,480 I am asking for his resignation. Could it be an 302 00:19:05,519 --> 00:19:09,480 effort to cost Bokari his position in the Trump administration? 303 00:19:10,519 --> 00:19:15,480 That maybe I don't know. Another message I got says 304 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:20,960 maybe the purpose of the potential shakedown is about torpedoing 305 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,960 Missus Bokhari from getting appointed to the seat right because 306 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,160 Tark Bukari's wife is interested in filling the remainder of 307 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:35,680 his unexpired term. And Russ says throughout this stage, Chief 308 00:19:35,759 --> 00:19:40,839 Jennings seems to be conflating or seemed to be conflating 309 00:19:42,039 --> 00:19:45,359 the protective effects of the under the shirt pistol vests 310 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,759 and the outer rifle protective gear. He was making it 311 00:19:49,759 --> 00:19:52,160 sound like there was no difference other than the optics. 312 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,599 The councilmen and officers were saying they wanted more protection 313 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,519 and better access to gear. Also, I recall early reports 314 00:19:59,559 --> 00:20:02,039 from that shooting event where it was speculated that had 315 00:20:02,039 --> 00:20:06,079 the officers had the exterior vests with a drag loop. 316 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,160 It might have made it easier to get the downed 317 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,480 officers out of the line of fire and render aid sooner. 318 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:13,799 Speaker 3: Right. 319 00:20:13,839 --> 00:20:16,799 Speaker 1: So a strap that you that, like, if I get shot, 320 00:20:16,839 --> 00:20:19,200 I'm wearing the vest. I get shot, somebody can grab 321 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,119 that strap and drag me away more easily. It's part 322 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,599 of the vest. Yeah. See, this is what I mean. 323 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:33,359 Like the reputational damage that Jennings is alleging, I'm unclear 324 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,839 on because people don't even even I don't remember all 325 00:20:36,839 --> 00:20:43,640 of the details of that argument. And like I did 326 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,759 not have any lower opinion of the police chief after that, 327 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:52,079 after that debate, unchallenged. Ideas are easy to hold me 328 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,960 disagreeing with somebody and trying to get them to change 329 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,279 their mind and do a policy I think is better 330 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:05,000 that is not reputational damage to you. Let me go 331 00:21:05,079 --> 00:21:07,279 over and talk to Ed. Hello, Ed, welcome to the 332 00:21:07,319 --> 00:21:08,480 show boy. 333 00:21:08,519 --> 00:21:11,799 Speaker 3: You can't be with this guy just said it's unbelievable. 334 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,319 But this guy, this chief of this chief of police, 335 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,200 ought to resign. You know, this is nothing but a 336 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:21,599 bunch of collusions. He's supposed to be fighting crime. Crime 337 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,559 is rampant in this city, whether they tell you not, whatever. 338 00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:27,200 It has murders all over the place here. How many 339 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:31,160 people got murdered on his watch? So why wouldn't you 340 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:36,079 give the policeman the protection to go do their job. 341 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,519 It's pretty simple. You can't go win the war with a. 342 00:21:39,559 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: Knife, right, Well, I think it was behind the door. Yeah. 343 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,759 His argument I think at the time was that the 344 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,640 that there was no protection difference. I don't know if 345 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,519 that's true, and I don't recall these specific arguments because 346 00:21:54,559 --> 00:21:57,240 this was, you know, two years ago, whenever it was 347 00:21:57,279 --> 00:21:58,319 when the fight was happening. 348 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 3: But why is the NAACP getting involved in this stuff 349 00:22:02,599 --> 00:22:06,240 and colluding? They're all doing backdoor stuff here and this 350 00:22:06,279 --> 00:22:10,400 doesn't look good for the council. No, anybody that votes 351 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,759 to give this guy any money, there should be a 352 00:22:12,799 --> 00:22:16,400 caveat there. I give you the money, you need to resign, 353 00:22:16,799 --> 00:22:19,799 You need to go. Let's get somebody in here that 354 00:22:19,839 --> 00:22:22,839 can crime fight. I mean, the people here in this 355 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,599 city are pissed off. We've had enough of this stuff. 356 00:22:26,559 --> 00:22:28,319 You know, anytime you see somebody get. 357 00:22:28,319 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 2: Murdered, will you hear about it? 358 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,799 Speaker 3: It breaks your damn heart because there are a wholeless 359 00:22:32,839 --> 00:22:35,920 of people behind it, family members that have to suffer 360 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:36,759 through all this stuff. 361 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,160 Speaker 2: It shouldn't be. Yeah. 362 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: Well, and the first responders, law enforcement, everybody. Yeah yeah, 363 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,039 it's traumatic for a lot a lot of people. It 364 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,319 changes people's lives permanently. 365 00:22:47,759 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 3: And every time, every time there's a murder in this city, 366 00:22:51,559 --> 00:22:54,839 they should wake up the councilmen in that area or 367 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,160 the council person in the area and have to go 368 00:22:57,519 --> 00:23:01,240 and let them see exactly what these first responders have 369 00:23:01,319 --> 00:23:04,319 to see. Then they're going to change their tone. The 370 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:06,640 only time they go to change their tomb about crime 371 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,359 fighting is if they have to go see it firsthand, 372 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:13,400 because let me tell you something, it isn't a pleasant scene. 373 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: Yea, yeah, Ed, I appreciate the call. Yeah, yes, sir, 374 00:23:16,319 --> 00:23:22,720 thank you. Ed raises the question, why is the NAACP 375 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:27,960 involved in this? What is the nature of this relationship? So, 376 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:32,599 according to WSOCTV, two top aids to the police chief 377 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:38,359 advised what should be in a complaint against former Charlotte 378 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:44,559 City councilman Tarkboocary. Channel nine. WSOC obtained emails sent from 379 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,880 the personal email accounts of Major Brad Kotch, the assistant 380 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,200 to the chief, and Sandy Vastola, the public Affairs Division 381 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,279 Bureau Commander. Channel nine first reported the ethics complaints existence 382 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,720 on Friday. The complaint was filed in January by the 383 00:24:00,839 --> 00:24:05,960 NAACP President, Reverend Krinn mac and it was dismissed by 384 00:24:06,079 --> 00:24:10,279 interim City Attorney Anthony Fox a short time later. By 385 00:24:10,279 --> 00:24:15,519 the way, the city council also just just let go 386 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:19,319 their attorney, the city attorney. Is that related to all 387 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:23,000 of this? I don't know all of that stuff happens 388 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:27,559 in closed session. Vestola sent Major kochin email on August 389 00:24:27,559 --> 00:24:33,880 twenty seventh, and again this is from the Public Affairs 390 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:39,680 Division Bureau Commander to Major Brad Kotch, who is Jennings 391 00:24:39,799 --> 00:24:44,000 right hand man. Quote, Hey, I would have her focus 392 00:24:44,039 --> 00:24:47,400 on Tark and the Fraternal Order of Police in their 393 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:51,839 official capacities taking this on as a crusade against the 394 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:55,759 chief with personal and major threats to force him to retire, 395 00:24:56,119 --> 00:25:00,359 slash get fired, and forgetting that the operational decison visions 396 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,079 of this department rest with the Chief of Police, not 397 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,279 bullies who try to bully him into making decisions that 398 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,920 may not be in accordance with his desires, Threats against 399 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,279 his home by disclosing where he lives, stating publicly that 400 00:25:13,319 --> 00:25:17,680 he forced officers to check his home. Bacari tried to 401 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,920 claim that he was doing this as a citizen and 402 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,720 not in his official capacity. He has been in his 403 00:25:22,759 --> 00:25:26,160 official capacity the entire time. He has been threatening the 404 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,079 chief the entire time. Right because Bacari would say things 405 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:32,799 like from the dais at the council meetings, like I'm 406 00:25:32,839 --> 00:25:35,079 going to take off my city councilman hat and I'm 407 00:25:35,079 --> 00:25:37,160 just going to say this as a private citizen, which 408 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:39,880 I don't know if you. I don't know how that 409 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,400 stands up in court. I really do not know. I'm 410 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:46,240 not saying that that's protective or not. 411 00:25:47,799 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 2: So. 412 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:53,319 Speaker 1: Major Koch takes this email from Sandy Vastola and forwards 413 00:25:53,319 --> 00:25:57,640 it to the NAACP leader the next day, and lo 414 00:25:57,799 --> 00:26:02,240 and behold, this lane language turns up in her complaint. 415 00:26:03,079 --> 00:26:06,799 The ethics complaint includes sentences that were similar and at 416 00:26:06,839 --> 00:26:11,640 times identical, to the email that was forwarded to Reverend mec. 417 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,519 Reached by phone, Veastola said that she had quote no 418 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,279 involvement with crafting the complaint. Well, now I don't think 419 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:25,160 that's actually true, is it? Because your email says I 420 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:29,880 would have her focus on tark Bacari and the FOP 421 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,960 in their official capacities. So you knew that the complaint 422 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,039 was being drafted up. Your boss, I assume, asked you 423 00:26:37,319 --> 00:26:39,759 what she should put in there, or how she should 424 00:26:39,799 --> 00:26:41,640 frame it, and what's the best way to approach it 425 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,319 or whatever, and you offered advice to that. So I 426 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:49,880 would say that is involvement. Yeah, that's involvement in the 427 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,880 crafting of a complaint. If I were to, I don't know, 428 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,559 do an analogy to a crime. For example, if somebody 429 00:26:56,559 --> 00:26:59,599 says to you, hey, I'm fixing to rob a store. 430 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:02,359 How what's the best way to go about doing that, 431 00:27:02,519 --> 00:27:05,519 and you then give them some advice on how to 432 00:27:05,559 --> 00:27:07,759 do that, and then they go do it. I'm pretty 433 00:27:07,759 --> 00:27:09,680 sure that the cops might show up at your door 434 00:27:09,759 --> 00:27:12,759 and say, hey, you were involved in the commission of 435 00:27:12,759 --> 00:27:18,039 this crime. Right, that's involvement. She said she did speak 436 00:27:18,079 --> 00:27:22,160 with Reverend mac about concerns that Mac had about Bokari. 437 00:27:22,519 --> 00:27:25,839 She described her role as simply answering questions and maybe 438 00:27:25,839 --> 00:27:30,039 that's all it was. I don't know. A spokesperson for 439 00:27:30,079 --> 00:27:33,119 the City of Charlotte said neither Vestola nor Kotch violated 440 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,079 city policy. All right, if you're listening to this show, 441 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:37,680 you know I try to keep up with all sorts 442 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:39,720 of current events, and I know you do too, And 443 00:27:39,799 --> 00:27:43,240 you've probably heard me say get your news from multiple sources. 444 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:47,000 Why well, because it's how you detect media bias, which 445 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,920 is why I've been so impressed with ground News. It's 446 00:27:50,039 --> 00:27:53,480 an app and it's a website and it combines news 447 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,400 from around the world in one place, so you can 448 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,799 compare coverage and verify information. You could check it out 449 00:27:58,839 --> 00:28:03,480 at check dot ground, dot news slash pete. I put 450 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,440 the link in the podcast description too. I started using 451 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,359 ground News a few months ago and more recently chose 452 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,359 to work with them as an affiliate because it lets 453 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,000 me see clearly how stories get covered and by whom. 454 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:18,200 The blind spot feature shows you which stories get ignored 455 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,160 by the left and the right. See for yourself. Check 456 00:28:21,279 --> 00:28:25,720 dot ground, dot news slash pete. Subscribe through that link 457 00:28:25,799 --> 00:28:28,680 and you'll get fifteen percent off any subscription. I use 458 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,839 the Vantage plan to get unlimited access to every feature. 459 00:28:32,039 --> 00:28:34,839 Your subscription then not only helps my podcast, but it 460 00:28:34,839 --> 00:28:38,000 also supports ground News as they make the media landscape 461 00:28:38,039 --> 00:28:43,200 more transparent. Greg emails, why don't they just settle this 462 00:28:43,279 --> 00:28:46,759 the old fashioned way, a duel, each wearing the vest 463 00:28:46,759 --> 00:28:52,799 of their choice. John says, don't forget ed Driggs is 464 00:28:52,799 --> 00:28:56,559 still a Republican on the city council. Yeah, that's true, 465 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,640 Jay says, Ja not wanting to have a militarized look. 466 00:29:02,799 --> 00:29:07,000 Is bs CMPD switched to uniforms that look like BDUs 467 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:14,519 or military uniforms like six to ten years ago. I 468 00:29:14,559 --> 00:29:17,960 do wonder why they wear such dark uniforms in this heat. 469 00:29:18,119 --> 00:29:23,319 Always feel bad for them. So back to the WSOC 470 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:29,119 story wsoctv dot com reporting by Joe Bruno that we 471 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,680 spoke with We spoke with the last hour. 472 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:33,079 Speaker 3: So. 473 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,839 Speaker 1: A spokesperson for the City of Charlotte said that neither 474 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:42,039 Vestola nor Kotch violated city policy. City personnel rules and 475 00:29:42,079 --> 00:29:48,119 regulations recognizes each employee's constitutional right to join or affiliate 476 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:52,559 with political organizations, attend political meetings, and advocate and support 477 00:29:52,559 --> 00:29:56,720 political principles and policies. State law recognized that every employee 478 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,839 has the constitutional right to engage in free speech and associations. 479 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:06,279 Spokesperson Jason Jason Schneider City personnel rules prohibit city employees 480 00:30:06,559 --> 00:30:09,839 from quote engaging in any political activity while on duty, 481 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,559 and may not use any supplies or equipment owned by 482 00:30:12,599 --> 00:30:16,279 the city for any other political purposes. Right, So them 483 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:20,240 using their personal email would not have violated any of this, 484 00:30:20,559 --> 00:30:24,640 any of the city personnel rules. But then that also 485 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:29,839 makes me question why are they using the emails of 486 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:37,880 the private emails but four avoiding the rules? Right? So 487 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,480 they know that this is they know they are engaging 488 00:30:40,599 --> 00:30:43,880 in some kind of a political activity. It's protected. I'm 489 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:45,759 not saying they should be fired, to be clear about that, like, 490 00:30:45,759 --> 00:30:47,599 I'm not calling for them. As far as I know, 491 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,640 they haven't done anything that would warrant them getting fired. 492 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,960 But you cannot say that you were not involved in 493 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:59,720 the complaint. You knew that the NAACP leader wanted to 494 00:30:59,759 --> 00:31:03,720 fire a complaint against tark Bookary and when she asked 495 00:31:03,759 --> 00:31:06,640 you too, or maybe she asked Jennings and then Jennings 496 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,440 kicked it over to you, or or maybe he had 497 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:12,400 no idea. I don't know. We need a We need 498 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:15,400 a TikTok, not the not the social media app. We 499 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:19,200 need a we need a chronology. 500 00:31:20,279 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 2: What all? 501 00:31:20,799 --> 00:31:24,319 Speaker 1: What was the what was the chronological order where all 502 00:31:24,359 --> 00:31:28,200 these comms were going on? Who reached out to whom right, 503 00:31:28,519 --> 00:31:31,440 We have some bit of you know, time stamps here 504 00:31:31,519 --> 00:31:36,240 from the email exchange. But there was obvious involvement with 505 00:31:36,799 --> 00:31:42,440 two people inside CMPD helping the NAACP draft a complaint 506 00:31:42,839 --> 00:31:48,119 against tark Bookari sitting city councilmen. This was before he 507 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:54,680 got the appointment up to the Trump administration. Was this retribution? 508 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,640 Was this using the nuble a CP like, did CMPD 509 00:31:58,799 --> 00:32:01,519 try to use the end of ACP in order to 510 00:32:02,319 --> 00:32:07,920 hurt Bakari? Or was this something the NAACP was off 511 00:32:08,039 --> 00:32:10,839 freelancing on their own. They this was their operation that 512 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,480 they were running, and they happened. She current mac happens 513 00:32:14,559 --> 00:32:18,720 to know Johnny Jennings. That would not surprise me at all. 514 00:32:18,799 --> 00:32:21,880 In fact, I expect the head of the NAACP to 515 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:25,119 be very well acquainted with the police chief and maybe 516 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,720 even his right hand man. I assume that CMPD does 517 00:32:28,759 --> 00:32:32,920 a lot of events with the NAACP right various events, 518 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:34,559 all sorts of things. You're doing any kind of like 519 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,119 you know, events, gala or something you want to invite 520 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,279 the police chief and you're going to do something, you know, 521 00:32:39,359 --> 00:32:43,000 community safety event you want to invite CMPD. I have 522 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:46,559 no doubt whatsoever. There's nothing inappropriate about that whatsoever. And 523 00:32:46,599 --> 00:32:49,039 then you develop a relationship. You have the chief's number, 524 00:32:49,119 --> 00:32:51,799 or you have his right hand man's number, and so 525 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,079 you reach out to this person because this is the 526 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:59,920 one you know. And rather than Koch or Vestola, rather 527 00:33:00,079 --> 00:33:02,400 of them them saying, you know what, we shouldn't be 528 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,200 engaged in this kind of behavior, they said, well, we'll 529 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,839 take it offline, out of the government servers, and we'll 530 00:33:08,839 --> 00:33:12,079 put it on you know, Google email or Gmail accounts 531 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,319 or whatever, and we'll email you that way. So they 532 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,839 recognized that this would not be appropriate to do from 533 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:23,759 a city employee standpoint, which means they did recognize the 534 00:33:23,799 --> 00:33:26,319 political nature of it because they moved it off to 535 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:30,039 private email, or maybe they always communicate via private email. 536 00:33:30,119 --> 00:33:33,480 I don't know. See again, there are lots of there 537 00:33:33,519 --> 00:33:36,680 are lots of gaps in this story. But it's still early, 538 00:33:36,759 --> 00:33:38,440 it's still developing, so there are going to be a 539 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:43,519 lot of gaps. And there's no formal complaint where you 540 00:33:43,559 --> 00:33:45,559 would spell all of this stuff out and then it 541 00:33:45,599 --> 00:33:49,240 could be tested in a court of law or in 542 00:33:49,559 --> 00:33:52,759 mediation or something. But we're not. We are deprived of 543 00:33:52,839 --> 00:33:55,759 that as well, because all we get is the police 544 00:33:55,839 --> 00:33:58,400 chief is threatening to sue for half a million dollars 545 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:09,480 because of reputational haunt. Um okay, Uh. WBT is the 546 00:34:09,519 --> 00:34:11,920 one who reported that Jennings wants half a million dollars. 547 00:34:12,159 --> 00:34:14,000 We also reported that the chief is the one who 548 00:34:14,079 --> 00:34:16,440 reached out to the head of the NAACP asking her 549 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,840 to file the complaint, and then his staff got busy 550 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:22,119 with those emails signed your colleague, Mark Garrison, news director. 551 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:26,800 Thank you, Mark, I appreciate it, right. So okay, so 552 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:31,440 there you go that there's the there's the detailed Jennings 553 00:34:31,519 --> 00:34:34,760 reached out to the NAACP asking her to file the complaint. 554 00:34:35,079 --> 00:34:39,920 That seems pretty important. So now you get your friend 555 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,360 in the NAACP to file the complaint. Now you go 556 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,000 and say, well, if you don't want me to sue 557 00:34:44,079 --> 00:34:47,079 you guys, you know, give me half a million dollars 558 00:34:47,599 --> 00:34:52,519 because now the complaint doesn't even matter, right because Bocari's gone, yeah, 559 00:34:52,559 --> 00:34:58,519 this is it. It just smacks of a shakedown, all right, 560 00:34:58,559 --> 00:35:02,679 real quick? Uh sad. Note to report to you that 561 00:35:03,519 --> 00:35:09,280 Brad Krantz, former WBT host here, he passed away today. 562 00:35:10,039 --> 00:35:12,119 There is a memorial service. He will be held on 563 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:15,559 Friday at eleven am up in Greensboro, where he lived, 564 00:35:16,079 --> 00:35:20,280 and our prayers are with his family and may his 565 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:25,679 memory be a blessing. All Right, that'll do it for 566 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:28,519 this episode. Thank you so much for listening. I could 567 00:35:28,559 --> 00:35:30,800 not do the show without your support and the support 568 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:33,679 of the businesses that advertise on the podcast, so if 569 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:35,719 you'd like, please support them too and tell them you 570 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:37,840 heard it here. You can also become a patron at 571 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,920 my Patreon page or go to thepetecallanershow dot com. Again, 572 00:35:42,199 --> 00:35:44,719 thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything 573 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:45,360 while I'm gone.