But Cameron added that under the law, the officers who fired their weapons at Taylor were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at by her boyfriend. “My heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor,” Cameron said. A grand jury indicted fired Officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s after police entered her house on March 13. Black attorney general chokes up during Taylor announcement. By LISA J. ADAMS WAGNER and BRUCE SCHREINER September 23, 2020 GMT. All rights reserved. “I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is ... which is why it was so incredibly important to make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact,” Cameron told a news conference in the capital of Frankfort. “If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice,” he said. Associated Press reporter Haleluya Hadero in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report. “My heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor,” Cameron said. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case. “The time I spent working with our law enforcement community when I was Senator McConnell’s general counsel gave me the breadth of relationships, helping them confront what I, in many ways, think has become the public safety challenge of our lifetime — the drug epidemic,” he told the newspaper. Daniel Cameron, a former legal counsel for Senator Mitch McConnell, won his race for attorney general of Kentucky on Tuesday, making him the first black person to be elected to the office in the state. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, By LISA J. ADAMS WAGNER and BRUCE SCHREINER, Portland police arrest 26 during protests, 28 arrested, tear gas used in Wisconsin protests, Families seek new investigations into old police killings, Indiana race opens up after attorney general's troubles. “I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is ... which is why it was so incredibly important to make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact,” Cameron told a news conference in the capital of Frankfort. Mr. Cameron, 33, will replace Andy Beshear, a Democrat who defeated Mr. Bevin to become the state’s next governor. Kentucky’s Black attorney general choked up Wednesday when explaining why a grand jury didn't seek criminal charges against police officers for Breonna Taylor’s death — but his sympathetic words fell on many deaf ears. ", He added that “Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts, but neither will we accept an all-out assault on Western civilization.”. Once a legal counsel for Senator Mitch McConnell, he became the first Republican to be elected to the office in more than 70 years. Matt Bevin’s running mate in the 2015 election. “If Daniel Cameron was not in that position, he would be like any other Black man: at risk. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s Black attorney general choked up Wednesday when explaining why a grand jury didn’t seek criminal charges against police officers for Breonna Taylor’s death — but his sympathetic words fell on many deaf ears. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addresses the media following the return of a grand jury investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor, in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Cameron, 34, elected last year as the state's first Black attorney general, is a rising star in the Republican party and was a guest speaker at the GOP convention last month, where he declared himself a “proud Republican and supporter of President Donald J. Trump.” The president has placed the attorney general on the short list for a seat on the Supreme Court. Of the three Louisville Metro police officers being investigated, one was indicted. He was also the first black person to be independently elected to a statewide office in Kentucky, and the first Republican attorney general elected in the state in more than 70 years. Commenting during his convention speech on nationwide protests for racial equality and against the police shootings of Black people, Cameron remarked, “Even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who work in good faith towards peace, justice, and equality. The jury relied on evidence Cameron presented. Lawren Taylor, a nurse educator in Baton Rouge, said Cameron “was being extremely hypocritical” in his remarks Wednesday. Daniel Cameron Becomes First Black Attorney General Elected in Kentucky. “And I’ve said that repeatedly. ). Attorney General Daniel Cameron cited his own family in seeking to convey that he understood some people in Louisville and across the country would be angry at the jury's decision Wednesday. "I’ve seen that pain in the community.”. Attorney General Daniel Cameron cited his own family in seeking to convey that he understood some people in Louisville and across the country would be angry at the jury’s decision Wednesday. Mr. Cameron, a former football player at the University of Louisville, overcame accusations that he was too inexperienced for the job, having graduated from law school just eight years ago. Kentucky’s Black state attorney general choked up and held back tears Wednesday while explaining why no police officers are facing criminal charges directly related to Breonna Taylor’s death. Some reacted to Cameron’s remarks with anger, and claimed he was putting on an emotional show. But Cameron added that under the law, the officers who fired their weapons at Taylor were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at by her boyfriend. A grand jury indicted fired Officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into a home next to Taylor's after police entered her house on March 13. ... I’ve seen that pain on Miss (Tamika) Palmer’s face,” he said, referring to Taylor’s mother. “If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice," he said. “A Black face in a high place doesn’t mean anything if it’s not about actually fundamentally decolonizing and tearing down the systems of inequality and inequity that have existed in this county since its founding,” Lewis said. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addresses the media following the return of a grand jury investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor, in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. "If Daniel Cameron was not in that position, he would be like any other Black man: at risk. If he understood that, he would not have made the choice to speak at the RNC and endorse a leader who is constantly spewing racist rhetoric. 1 of 2. “A Black face in a high place doesn’t mean anything if it’s not about actually fundamentally decolonizing and tearing down the systems of inequality and inequity that have existed in this county since its founding,” Lewis said. Daniel Cameron, a former legal counsel for Senator Mitch McConnell, won his race for attorney general of Kentucky on Tuesday, making him the first black … Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Cameron said he would “get back to the bread-and-butter basics of being the chief law enforcement officer in defending and enforcing the laws.”, During his campaign, Mr. Cameron supported President Trump’s push for a border wall, and voiced traditional Republican views in opposing abortion and gun control. Adams Wagner reported from Decatur, Georgia.