Christopher Coates Removed From Post — Christopher Coates, the man who approved the civil rights complaint against New Black Panther Party for its behavior at a Philadelphia polling place in the November 2008 election, has been removed from his post as chief of the Voting Section of the Justice Department. Reportedly he is being transferred to the U.S. attorney’s office in South Carolina.
Deputy Chief Chris Herren is now acting chief.
The complaint was made after members of the New Black Panther Party wearing military garb waved nightsticks and made racially-tinged remarks to voters.
The incident was videotaped and widely viewed on the internet.
The complaint was dismissed in May after Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrell, an Obama appointee, overruled six career lawyers who
were recommending it go forward.
Christopher Coates Removed From Post