A lawsuit is being filed against Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes and CBS over a reality TV series to be aired as part of 48 Hours beginning this month. The plaintiff, Hynes' opponent Abe George, alleges that that the series is nothing more than free election propaganda for Hynes. There will be a protest tomorrow in front of CBS in Manhattan. George will be joined by people wrongly convicted by Hynes and by their families.
Charles Hynes
The press release:
BROOKLYN DA CHARLES HYNES AND CBS TO VIOLATE NEW YORK ELECTION LAWS IN AIRING NEW REALITY SERIES, BROOKLYN DA, PROTEST AND PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY, MAY 14 @ 1:30PM, IN FRONT OF CBS CORPORATION
Press conference to announce the filing of a lawsuit against CBS Corporation and Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to prevent the airing of a CBS Television series promoting Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes, will take place on Tuesday, May 14 at 1:30 pm in front of CBS Corporation, 51 West 52nd Street, at 6th Avenue. A protest by family members and victims of the District Attorney’s office who have have been wrongfully convicted in Brooklyn during the tenure of DA Hynes will also take place.
Abe George, candidate for Brooklyn District Attorney who is filing the lawsuit seeking an injunction against Hynes and CBS, will be joined by Jeffrey Deskovic, of the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, wrongful conviction victim Derrick Hamilton, and others.
The lawsuit alleges that the incumbent Brooklyn District Attorney for the past 23 years has agreed to take an excessive campaign contribution from defendant CBS in violation of New York State Election Law during the final critical months of his closely contested race for re-election this year.
The contribution from CBS, which could amount to millions of dollars to Hynes, is under the guise of a reality television show called Brooklyn D.A. that CBS recently announced it will broadcast starting May 28 in six, one-hour weekly episodes, starring Hynes and his office. It will far exceed the state limit for a corporate contribution, capped at $5,000 a year. In expending the time and resources of his office to coordinate with CBS in the production, filming and promotion of the show, Hynes has also unlawfully used state money to further his own political campaign.
WHO: Brooklyn, DA Candidate Abe George, Jeffrey Deskovic, families and victims of wrongful convictions by DA Charles Hynes’s office
WHEN: 1:30 PM Tuesday, May 14, 2013
WHERE: CBS Corporate Headquarters,51 W. 52nd Street, at 6th Ave