Call 9-1-1: Bongino Opens Giant Can Of Whoop-@ss On Geraldo Over Atlanta Cop Case

Wes WalkerJune 18, 2020

39 2 minutes read

Sparks have flown a few times on air when Dan Bongino and Geraldo Rivera crossed swords on charged political issues. The officer-involved shooting in Atlanta is the latest example.

Now that charges have been laid against the officers involved, including the death-penalty eligible Felony Murder, Geraldo has put out a video weighing in on the events that happened in that Wendy’s parking lot.

Geraldo parroted every talking point of those who would assume the officer’s guilt and make him prove his innocence.. with the key exception being that he thinks the Felony Murder charges are an instance of overcharging and that the death was not intentional:

Black guys shouldn’t get shot in the back when they’re stopped by white cops when drunk in Wendy’s. Situations like #RayshardBrooks must be de-escalated. Take the keys. Give the guy a citation or summons. Don’t shot him in the back. ⁦@SenatorTimScott⁩ is on right track. pic.twitter.com/xRB3HA8yNr

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) June 18, 2020

He had a few inflammatory tweets in line with his video, including these:

When their men and boys go out for evening, Black families should not fear cops more than crooks. Justice must be colorblind. Fans of cops should encourage resolution of encounters not obviously criminal w minimal force. Save macho policing for encounters with hardened criminals.

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) June 18, 2020

Police buffs lose credibility when they stubbornly defend bad cops caught on tape doing bad things. Sleepy drunk trying to get greasy burger should not be at risk of getting shot in the back. Law enforcement is tough & dangerous & not made easier by police buffs blind to excesses

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) June 18, 2020

Naturally, the video went viral on Twitter.

Dan Bongino — who served as a NYPD beat cop himself back in the day — was not going to let the assertions Geraldo made in this video pass unchallenged. He made his own video in response to it:

https://twitter.com/dbongino/status/1273603732136177664

The caption says it all. ‘Geraldo is not telling you the truth’.

There are two specific objections Dan was raising in answer to Geraldo’s video.

1) Dan challenges Geraldo’s assumption that this was an instance of manslaughter, or that it is fair to assume that this lethal force incident fell outside the scope of lawful police response.

(This is why we have the courts render legal decisions and not some version of Trial By Media mob justice.)

2) Dan challenges the assumption that the events on that fateful evening were in any way motivated by racial animus.

Unless and until that is proven, the race of both parties must be treated as incidental, for the very reason that we do not PROVE our innocence in this country.

James Woods recently tweeted a video that gives some much-needed perspective on incidents like this one.

How fast to things move, and how tough is that decision about whether or when to draw a weapon, and what risks come along with erring on the side of leniency?