officers - The Black Vault

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build a solid foundation for what
the facts are."
Capt. Tim McBride, the commander
of the Foothill Division,
said officers have "nothing to
hide" from the FBI.
McBride declined to say
whether he has been que.stioned
by agents, or whether he planned
to tell the FBI that he was "under
duress" to answer their questions.
But his attorney, Barry Levin,
said he has advised McBride not
to answer any questions without
stating he was under pressure to
do so.
"All they are is on a witch
hunt," Levin said. "My advice to
him is that he assert his constitutional
privilege (against self-incrimination).
••These officers and Capt.
McBride will answer any questions
by any law enforcement
agency that has do to with "the
King beating, but we're not going
to get involved in political games
here," Levin said.
Thomas F. Jones, the FBI's
chief spokesman in Washington,
·said agents would not interview
any police officer who claims he
was under pressure to cooperate.
••Their cooperati~n is strictly
voluntary," Jones said. ••They are
not ~ompelled to talk ttl us. If
they don't want to talk with us,
we record that fact, but that's
it"
Carlos Fernandez, an FBI
spokesman in Washington, D.C.~
said agents involved in the King
investigation would prepare an
initial report within 21 working
days. .
He would not comment specif:­
ically on the King case, but saw
that Justice Department officials
generally use such reports to de-.
termine if further criminal investigation
is necessary. i.
Assistant U.S. Attome"y Michael
W. Emmick, chief of th~
Public Corruption and Government
Fraud unit in Los Angeles,
said local prosecutors are assist.:
ing a team of Justice Department
lawyers dispatched from Wash,.
ington to oversee the King investigation.
. :
Emmick said the government
generally has the power to isstie
grand jury subpoenas in cases
where witnesses are reluctant to
testify. He would not say whether
· federal officials are consideririg
issuing such subpoenas in the
King case. _ ·
Daily News staff writers Jaxon
Van Derbeken, Rick Orlov and
John Polich contributed to this
story. ' · ~