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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Steve Kurtz Cleared of All Charges

posted by on June 11 at 8:44 AM

From the press release sent out this morning by Kurtz’s supporters (background here):

Buffalo, NY—Dr. Steven Kurtz, a Professor of Visual Studies at SUNY at Buffalo and cofounder of the award-winning art and theater group Critical Art Ensemble, has been cleared of all charges of mail and wire fraud. On April 21, Federal Judge Richard J. Arcara dismissed the government’s entire indictment against Dr. Kurtz as “insufficient on its face.” This means that even if the actions alleged in the indictment (which the judge must accept as “fact”) were true, they would not constitute a crime. The US Department of Justice had thirty days from the date of the ruling to appeal. No action has been taken in this time period, thus stopping any appeal of the dismissal. According to Margaret McFarland, a spokeswoman for US Attorney Terrance P. Flynn, the DoJ will not appeal Arcara’s ruling and will not seek any new charges against Kurtz.

…Finally vindicated after four years of struggle, Kurtz, asked for a statement, responded stoically: “I don’t have a statement, but I do have questions. As an innocent man, where do I go to get back the four years the Department of Justice stole from me? As a taxpayer, where do I go to get back the millions of dollars the FBI and Justice Department wasted persecuting me? And as a citizen, what must I do to have a Justice Department free of partisan corruption so profound it has turned on those it is sworn to protect?”

…(CAE coordinator Lucia) Sommer added that the next step for the defense will be to get back all of the materials taken by the FBI during its 2004 raid on the Kurtz home, including several completed art projects, as well as Dr. Kurtz’s lab equipment, computers, books, manuscripts, notes, research materials, and personal belongings. The four confiscated art projects are the subject of an exhibition entitled SEIZED on view at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in Buffalo, NY, through July 18.

RSS icon Comments

1

Oof. I love playing the stupid flash-games on the side, but not to the point where they'll send you on your way. The dog with the bone is stupid. It doesn't do anything. Very disappointing.

In other words, I understand how Kurtz feels. Totally.

Posted by Mr. Poe | June 11, 2008 8:50 AM
2

freedom isn't free. some innocents have to pay for it.

to bad it wasn't the SPD who raided his home & took his wife's body - everyone in seattle would have to pony up a $20 to make up for it.

as it is, his suit against the feds would ultimately get quashed by the supremes.

Posted by max solomon | June 11, 2008 9:19 AM
3

Wow, that is seriously good news. I'm so glad Kurtz has finally triumphed over those idiots.

Posted by John Scott Tynes | June 11, 2008 6:17 PM

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