I was dumbfounded to see where one of the jurors in your case came forward and said you should not have been convicted. In my experience, this is unique. I’ve never heard of this happening before. It just shows how unfairly you were treated. When I saw the juror on television saying, “You never should have gone to prison” and “She wishes she could change the verdict and turn you loose,” I almost wanted to cry. God be with you Jim Brown.
S.R. from Lafayette, LA
Jim, you’ve been an inspiration to my family and many of my friends. You’ve handled this terrible tragedy with such class. It was so unfair what these federal people did to you. Many of us in Louisiana are very proud of you, thought you did a wonderful job in public life, and feel like you were so unjustly treated. But history will be kind to you because of the way you handled this entire matter.
Sarah from Hammond, Louisiana
I read every one of your columns when you were up in Oakdale, and I look forward to reading your columns every Thursday. We talk about them at work, and we spread them throughout the office. I read state and local columns; no one has the overall perspective with the human touch that you seem to, Mr. Brown. You have so many fans in the way you have carried on after the unfairness that happened to you and your family. You really are an inspiration. I hope you will write your columns for a long time to come, and I will be one of the first to buy your book.
K.R. from Jackson, Mississippi
We love your columns each week even though we don’t live in Louisiana. In fact, I print them out and discuss them at the dinner table. I’ve never heard of anyone who made the best of a really bad situation like you have. We all really laughed about your line that you have turned “chicken _ _ _ _ into chicken salad.” How true, and a good lesson for all of us. We want you to know that we appreciate what you’ve done for the state and the country. We will be readers for as long as you keep writing both your columns and your books. Godspeed, Mr. Brown.
J.S. from Austin, Texas
Your weekly column is as interesting, informative, and witty as anything I’ve read. I share with a number of friends each week, and wish there was more fresh analysis like yours being written. I applaud the way you stand up for Louisiana, and raise questions about mistakes involving both parties. If you listen to the Democrats or Republicans, you would think that they are 100% right, even if either side is completely wrong. That’s not the case, and you eloquently and intelligently point this out. Keep up the good work, Jim.
Ralph from Shreveport, Louisiana
Jim, I don’t always agree with you, but I have to say I look forward to your columns each week and I’m going out to buy your book this week. I thought you were treated so unfairly by the federal court system, and I have great admiration for the way you have bounced back, and are so strongly voicing your opinion. I hope to be a regular reader for some time to come.
Mary from Atlanta, Georgia
People
do not realize the power of this government against its citizens
once you become a target. It is frightening to me because
you are not the first person they have pulled this on. Congress
must do something to rein in the power they have grabbed before
it is too late. Good luck to you and may God bless you and
yours. I am a former Shreveporter living in S. Florida and
an LSU graduate.
Bill from Florida
I strongly believe you were unjustly tried and convicted.
As a cynical Louisiana native, when it comes to politics and
politicians, I always felt you put the state’s interests
above your own. Hopefully the Supreme Court will see through
this FBI sham and overturn your conviction. Be strong and
hang in there.
B.G. from Utah
I feel that I know you because of all the media attention
concerning your trial. I think you got a bum deal. I hope
you win your appeal. Good luck and God bless.
Gil
You don’t know me but as I and many residents of Louisiana
have followed your case for the past five years, we as citizens
must ask ourselves if our judicial system has what it takes
to serve the people justly. I think not! As in your case many
individuals are not given the opportunity to defend themselves
on key issues that ultimately decided their guilt or innocence.
My family and I wish you the best of luck! The truth will
prevail.
V.S. from Abita Springs
What has happened to you is an injustice and there is nothing
you can do about it, however, you’ve been put in a position
where you’ve been forced to go with the flow. I can’t
help but believe that something good is going to come out
of this experience for you…
D.H.
I thank you for caring so much about the small man while you
were in office and I truly hope to see you back in office
again. I am convinced by what I have seen that this all has
been a political ploy to get such wonderful and committed
workers as yourself out of office so the real dogs can take
over.
A Faithful Constituent
My prayers are with you. As a lifelong Louisiana resident,
I have appreciated your dedication to the state. I would vote
for you AGAIN in a New York minute. I always thought things
were better with you watching our backs. Good luck and God
bless.
C.M. from Lafayette
Way to go Commissioner! Your attitude toward your current
plight is an inspiration to us all. Good luck on your appeal
and we’ll be thinking of you as you keep us informed
over the next six months.
Ted from California
I have been interested in your case because I recently attended
an in-service at my job, which featured an attorney speaking
to us about the FBI, and the tactics they use, and the power
they have. I wish I could get a copy of the videotape, because
I don’t think most people have any idea what the federal
government can do to an innocent person. Anyway, I know you
will get through this and hopefully you can educate the public
about the power of the federal government and the FBI in particular.
I commend you for setting up this website and I will be checking
it often. Keep the faith.
L.M.
I am so glad I get a chance to write to you. I just wanted
to let you know that I believe you got a raw deal. I think
what’s going on here in Louisiana is all wrong. It seems
that the FBI can do just whatever and get away with it. I
don’t think for a minute you have done anything wrong.
I am a strong supporter of you and your family. I am also
praying for you and your family and I hope that everything
works out for you. Tell your family that my family is praying
for them. Take care. Our prayers are with you.
L.W.
I have never met you, but have read so much about you. From
what I know from the news and the newspaper I firmly believe
you are in the wrong place. I will keep you in my prayers
and hope these next six months are not difficult for you being
away from your family and friends. I look forward to reading
your news on your website. Six months may see like forever
but before you know it you’ll be reunited with your
family and the people who believe in you. Hang in there!!
E.N.
Godspeed to you sir! You and your family are in my prayers
daily. Your courage in adversity is an example that will not
go unnoticed. I believe history will reflect that.
Gayle from Denham Springs
I hope that your stay in Oakdale is not too much of an inconvenience.
However, if the prosecutor withheld information for your defense,
then I sincerely believe that you should not have been sent
to prison until ALL appeals have been exhausted. I suppose
that it is only because you are within the U.S. Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals and not in a more constitutional following
circuit.
Anonymous
I agree with you. I think it awful that a person can be convicted
of a crime without the benefit of viewing the evidence (notes).
I also think it bad that you or your attorney was not able
to question the agent. I believe the U.S. Supreme Court will
review your case and overturn the conviction. I do not understand
how this happened in a court of law; it all sounds unconstitutional.
L.P. from Walker
Your website brings back memories. I can hear the words being
spoken as I read your writing. The site makes it very clear
that what people perceived, reading and hearing about your
trial, was true. You were convicted unfairly. You were victimized
by a very unjust system. As a result you have been deprived
of a very precious thing - your freedom. The system has become
so corrupt that a growing number of people have lost faith
in it. During a trial, jury members are so afraid and/or influenced
that no fair verdict is possible. Your conviction was unique,
but not unusual. Their very procedures are so unfair and pro-government
that most have no chance at all. Your acquittal on the substantive
charges is what is unusual.
We
don’t hear about the unfairness of routine convictions.
We have heard about yours because you are so much more articulate
than most. But, this fact is very important because it becomes
a problem for all to handle and not just Jim Brown. And, as
you know, the way for these things to be corrected is for
many people to be in the same boat. It would be a very difficult
thing for you, as influential as you are, to change the system.
It would be very easy for society as a whole to do it. Unless
everyone is helped, no one person can be helped.
It
is very clear that the courts offer very little relief. The
judge that sentenced you should have thrown out the convictions,
but she is as pro-government as a judge can be. Very few remain
pro-citizen once on the bench. The citizens have to make it
unattractive to be pro-government and instill a duty to be
fair to all parties. There was a lack of morality in your
convictions and a lack of morality in your terrible loss of
freedom.
John
I have watched several federal cases go through the courts.
Your case is the largest misuse of federal law ever. You are
an honorable and just man that fell victim to an Attorney
General who put ambition before justice.
Bob
I am praying for you and hope the best for your family. I
sincerely do not admire a government that tramples on anyone’s
right to a fair trial. The real reason I wrote to you is to
a share a poem with you that carries me through my darkest
moments. With this poem memorized and God at your side, you
will seem like Daniel in the lion’s den.
See It Through
When
you’re up against a trouble
Meet it squarely face to face
Lift your chin set your shoulders
Plant your feet and take a brace
When it’s vain to try to dodge it
Do the best that you can do
You may fail but you may conquer
See it through
Even
hope may seem but futile
When with troubles you’re beset
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met
You may fail but fall still fighting
Don’t give up whatever you do
Eyes front head high to finish
See it through
Black
may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim
But don’t let your nerves desert you
Keep yourself in fighting trim
If the worst is bound to happen
In spite of all that you can do
Running from it will not save you
See it through.
M. Armstrong
Your mother has sat in front of my family in church for as
long as I can remember. I have been in school in Mississippi
for a semester now, so the only way I’ve been able to
keep up with your situation is through my parents, and now
your website. I have never really disagreed with most sentences,
but I can honestly say that you were flat out mistreated.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family as
you go through this time in your life.
Nancy from Shreveport
It’s been almost 10 years since I last saw you during
a meeting in Denver. I’ve followed your case through
the Advocate’s Internet edition. As a fellow attorney,
I believe an injustice was done with your prosecution, and
as a friend (though a long distance one) I am embarrassed
that it was our judicial system that allowed and nurtured
it. The Justice Department’s frustration over the years
of attempting to convict EWE appears to have become an obsession
to which the conviction of any friend of EWE must have been
considered a victory. This ruling is a two-edged sword for
the FBI; why would anyone ever talk to an agent now? But,
I’m sure you’ve heard all of this many times.
Wayne from Dallas
I have checked out your website and enjoyed reading the first
two entries in your “prison diary.” I, as well
as many others, feel you got a bum rap. The way your case
was handled was a sham and disgrace. I can see that you are
a family man, and I know that something good will come out
of all of this.
David B. from Baton Rouge
I am truly sorry for what happened to you. Who knows, you
may turn out correct when you get out and find they were in
the wrong. Police are so busy with petty things like this
and don’t have time to deal with harsher and harmful
crimes, such as car thefts, identity thefts, burglaries, snipers,
etc., and instead are putting harmless people like you in
jail.
Susie L.
