FLASHBACK – On October 6, 1988, the Abrams Grand Jury released its extensive and thorough 170 page report concluding that Tawana Brawley (“Brawley”) had not been abducted, assaulted, raped and sodomized as had been claimed by Brawley and her advisors.

The report further concluded that the “unsworn public allegations against Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Steven Pagones” were false and had no basis in fact. To issue the report, the Grand Jury heard from 180 witnesses, saw 250 exhibits and recorded over 6,000 pages of testimony.
It is probable that in the history of this state, never has a teenager turned the prosecutorial and judicial systems literally upside down with such false claims. The cost of the lengthy, thorough and complete grand jury investigation was reportedly estimated at one-half million dollars. The Grand Jury was supervised ably by Justice Ingrassia who carefully reviewed over six thousand pages of testimony by 180 witnesses as well as 250 exhibits. He accepted the extensive grand jury report as being supported by a preponderance of the credible evidence.
Every opportunity was afforded Sharpton, Mason and Maddox to prove that Brawley’s allegations were true. The jury found them false by clear and convincing evidence, a high burden of proof.

At the end of the trial this Court stated “Let us hope after 10 ½ years, the Tawana Brawley matter is finally laid to rest and we can move forward at last to promote healing and racial harmony.” Unfortunately, the continuing rhetoric by Brawley and her supporters refusing to accept the verdict does nothing to further racial harmony.
In fact, in this particular case it is a disservice to the African American community since it diminishes credibility and may adversely affect other viable complaints. This Court recognizes that it is perfectly proper in appropriate circumstances to speak out against any legitimate racial injustice. In this case, the injustice was against those wrongfully accused of heinous crimes that never occurred. The jury did justice by righting that wrong. Brawley and her supporters have no right to claim that justice was not accomplished by this jury.
– Judge S. Barrett Hickman, New York, 1998