Richard Jewell - Wikipedia
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A security guard that found a bomb and saved many lives at Olympic Park in Atlanta during the Olympics in 1996. After an FBI leak, the media effectively claimed him as the culprit.

A Justice Department investigation of the FBI’s conduct found that the FBI had tried to cause Jewell to waive his constitutional rights by telling him he was participating with a training movie about bomb detection, although the report concluded “no intentional violation of Mr. Jewell’s civil rights and no criminal misconduct” had occurred.

At a press conference in July 1997, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno expressed personal regret concerning the leak that resulted in intense media scrutiny of Jewell. She said, "I’m very sorry it happened. I think we owe him an apology. I regret the leak.

It’s something we should be aware of due to current events and major newspapers owned by billionaires.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    611·
    16 days ago

    That poor guy. I never thought he was guilty, but they dragged him through the mud. And that was before “Internet sleuths.” He seemed like a good guy who was trying to help.

      • andyburke@fedia.io
        41·
        16 days ago

        Yes: that helping isn’t always easy or rewarded but that we do it anyway because it is what’s right.

        Jewell married Dana Jewell in 1998; they remained married until his death.[2] The couple relocated to a farm they bought together, south of Atlanta.[21] In 2001, Jewell was honored as the Grand Marshal of Carmel, Indiana’s Independence Day Parade. Jewell was chosen in keeping with the parade’s theme of “Unsung Heroes”.[22] On each anniversary of the bombing until his illness and eventual death, he privately placed a rose at the Centennial Olympic Park scene where spectator Alice Hawthorne died.[23]

        An example for others for sure.