Raleigh, N.C.
Facing ethics charges that could lead to his disbarment, Mike Nifong took the witness stand Friday to testify in his own defense about his handling of the Duke lacrosse rape case.The North Carolina State Bar has charged Nifong with violating several state rules governing professional conduct, including an allegation he withheld critical DNA test results from defense attorneys representing three players charged with raping a stripper at a team party.
The bar has also charged Nifong with lying to both the court and bar investigators, and making misleading and inflammatory comments about the three indicted athletes. Those statements included calling the players a "bunch of hooligans" and confidently proclaiming he wouldn't allow Durham to become known for "a bunch of lacrosse players from Duke raping a black girl."
"I think clearly some of the statements I made were improper," Nifong said. "The comment about race was not a comment that should have been made."
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