On May 20, Nicholas Kristof wrote the longest opinion piece in New York Times history about Kevin Cooper, a California death row prisoner. Evidence in his case suggests that he was framed by evidence planted by the San Bernadino police.
Kristof spoke with Robert Dunham, the director of the Death Penalty Information Center, for the center’s podcast. In the interview, Kristof noted the significance of federal judges themselves claiming that Cooper was framed. He also compared the case to that of Cameron Willingham, who was executed in 2004. Although the media did not give Willingham’s case significant attention until after his death, Kristof is hoping that his piece can bring some attention to Cooper’s case before it is too late. Kristof also pointed to broader issues in the criminal justice system, such as a lack of accountability for official misconduct on all levels of the system. Learn more here.