Missouri Governor, A.G. Perform Elegant 'Avoiding Responsibility' Pas De Deux

Tuesday saw a bizarre little pas de deux in Missouri, as St. Louis County Attorney Robert McCulloch said that he'd continue on as lead prosecutor in the shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson. And Gov. Jay Nixon insisted that he would not replace McCulloch. 

Each also hinted that the other could take action. However, McCulloch said:

“I certainly have no intention of walking away from the responsibilities that the people have entrusted me with ... but I also understand if the governor were to do that, he has that right.”

And in his assertion of support for McCulloch, Nixon said that the prosecutor is an elected office, and no way should the governor interfere with that ... although, hey, since you mention it, “If he thinks that he wants to do that, certainly. That’s his call.”

Nixon later issued a statement clarifying that he wouldn't ask McCulloch to step aside, even as the statement noted that, you know, he really could:

There is a well-established process by which a prosecutor can recuse themselves from a pending investigation, and a special prosecutor be appointed. Departing from this established process could unnecessarily inject legal uncertainty into this matter and potentially jeopardize the prosecution.

McCulloch has been criticized as too close to police; he is the son of a cop who was killed in the line of duty, and earlier in the Ferguson shitshow, Mcculloch criticized the governor for not letting St. Louis County and Ferguson PD cops beat heads as much as they needed to.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley have both called for McCulloch to be removed from the case , and they're not alone. Demonstrators have rallied and signed petitions to have him removed.

In any case, there's nothing to worry about, since McCulloch says that one of the two attorneys presenting evidence to the grand jury is African-American, and how can you get fairer than that?

While the question of McCulloch's role in the prosecution remains unsettled, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to arrive in Missouri today. Surely no one will mind if he cuts in to the dance?

[ Vox / Newsweek / St. Louis Post-Dispatch / CBS St. Louis ]