Louisiana’s Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, has a lot of explaining to do after evidence surfaced that he was complicit in perpetuating a lie about the 2019 police killing of detainee Ronald Greene. The Associated Press reports that Edwards was informed within hours after state troopers arrested Greene and reported having had a “violent, lengthy struggle” with the detainee, who was in restraints at the time. Edwards denies impeding justice.
Troopers insisted after Greene’s death that he died as a result of injuries sustained in a high-speed car chase, and Edwards went along with that implausible story for two years even though he had information that should have caused him to challenge the story without hesitation. But, alas, he was in the middle of a tight reelection bid and, well, um, apparently didn’t want to look like he wasn’t supporting law enforcement.
If Edwards had an ounce of character and courage, he would have stood for the cause of justice over the cause of his own reelection. Opting to perpetuate a lie rather than speak the truth is exactly why this newspaper has criticized so many Republican leaders at the national and state level. In Edwards’ case, our hope is that GOP lawmakers in his state are relentless in their quest to hold him accountable — and that the standard they set with Edwards will continue to be one they uphold in all other cases.
