RantCrush Top 5: December 7, 2016

Well, here’s someone who definitely ranted: Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Sheriff Newell Normand. NFL player Joe McKnight was shot in a road rage incident last week, but the sheriff’s department didn’t charge the suspect until five days later. Because they delayed the arrest, the officers received a whole lot of internet hate. At a news conference declaring that the suspect had been charged with manslaughter yesterday, the sheriff seemed more upset about the aggressive profanities the department received via email than the fact that a man is dead. He also said that both the suspect and McKnight behaved badly–a sentiment that some people interpreted as victim-blaming.

Joe McKnight press conference is amazing to me. Sheriff up there demonizing the dead man and trying to make us feel sorry for the murderer.

— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) December 6, 2016

Normand slammed his fists on the podium and read from the emails he received. Eventually, some TV channels had to interrupt the live broadcast because of the foul language contained in the hate mail. But that also garnered Normand some criticism–he’s now accused of focusing on the emails more than the crime.

What the hell is wrong with #sheriffnormand? This is a press conference about Joe McKnight and he is worried about trolls on social media? pic.twitter.com/jGZepaWkOK

— BallerAlert (@balleralert) December 6, 2016

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.