Charlie Specht // Buffalo Muckraker
@Charlie_Reports
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Investigative reporter and writer in Buffalo focused on holding people in power accountable. Trying out this Substack thing and seeing where it goes.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Joined June 2009
In 2005, a city court judge lost it on the bench and jailed 46 people because of a cellphone. That judge is now the Mayor of Niagara Falls. And he keeps losing his temper and putting his hands on news cameras when he hears a question he doesn’t like. https://t.co/sB7CtiHHgt
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How Substack helped me break a big news story for WGRZ-TV. https://t.co/FKNeFPX40y
@SubstackInc
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Interesting story by @AaronBesecker on how and when the special prosecutor interviewed Lt. Lucia Esquilin in this Buffalo Police-Erie County Sheriff cover-up case.
buffalonews.com
The District Attorney's Office agreed that nothing Buffalo Police Lt. Lucia C. Esquilin told them in the interview could be used in any case against her, a standard agreement made in circumstances...
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I was interviewing an elected official when this broke. "The cover-up worked," the elected official said when we told them the news.
Niagara County DA announces *no charges* against Buffalo police Lt. Lucia Esquilin or 4 other cops who responded to Granville hit-and-run scene. https://t.co/DiRwqN5wPv
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EXCLUSIVE on @WGRZ : D.J. Granville led illegal search of #Buffalo home, accused by defense of “staging” evidence and misleading a judge. Most charges dropped against alleged drug dealer. https://t.co/InYyQcYedf
@SeanMickey7
wgrz.com
A warrant was altered with Wite-Out after a judge signed.
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For the last few years, @SeanMickey7 has tried to get the New York AG to release the secret abuse files of the Buffalo Diocese. In his first post for Buffalo Muckraker, Sean explains why control is central to this fight. https://t.co/QwKfQZCrsp
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For the last few years, @SeanMickey7 has tried to get the New York AG to release the secret abuse files of the Buffalo Diocese. In his first post for Buffalo Muckraker, Sean explains why control is central to this fight. https://t.co/QwKfQZCrsp
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In 2021, D.J. Granville's cousin, who is a member of the New York State Police, crashed his vehicle and later admitted to drinking and driving. He was given a traffic ticket. I spoke w/@Sammy_Sussman about his recent reporting for NYT and @nysfocus. https://t.co/0d1PYUPOK3
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ICYMI, @GovKathyHochul said she is not going to refer Granville case to @NewYorkStateAG, citing ongoing probe by Niagara County DA. Erie County lawmakers wanted independent investigation of Erie Sheriff/Buffalo PD coverup. DA is only looking @ Esquilin. https://t.co/Lcg0MCnFhC
wgrz.com
Democratic majority sends letter to Gov. Hochul.
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Erie County Sheriff John Garcia has released a statement blasting legislators who called on @GovKathyHochul to OK investigation by @NewYorkStateAG into police corruption in Granville case. Garcia has not faced tough questions in person since June 2. https://t.co/D5fqReUHEe
wgrz.com
Democratic majority sends letter to Gov. Hochul.
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Letter from Erie County Legislature majority asking @GovKathyHochul / @NewYorkStateAG @TishJames to please, please, please investigate police corruption allegations re: Granville/Esquilin incident. So far neither state leader has committed to getting involved.
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Feedback like this means so much to me. Thanks to my latest subscriber Gretchen who shared this after yesterday's post. Post about Granville records battle and other Buffalo news here: https://t.co/Y4BjdOrgrA
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Dr. Raul Vazquez, who is known for founding Urban Family Practice in #Buffalo, is under investigation by @NewYorkStateAG for alleged Medicaid fraud, according to documents filed in court. https://t.co/atk72mpWxq
@WGRZ
wgrz.com
Dr. Raul Vazquez is known for his work with underserved communities
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Jimmy Kimmel was correct in saying that government censorship of media is "un-American." By submitting to government demands/incentives, Sinclair and Nexstar (which is seeking to buy WGRZ/TEGNA) prove that they're media companies, not JOURNALISM companies. Big difference.
NEW: Jimmy Kimmel returned to late night with a monologue on American free speech, in defiance of pressure from President Trump, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, and local broadcast companies Sinclair and Nexstar (which is seeking to acquire 9NEWS/TEGNA)
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THANK YOU to everyone who helped make Buffalo Muckraker the #27 Rising in News on Substack. Please subscribe for independent investigative reporting that exposes corruption and holds the powerful accountable. https://t.co/SH5cm84A09
@SubstackInc
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Was the FCC’s pressure to pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air illegal? Here’s what the Constitution and Supreme Court say. #firstamendment #supremecourt #fcc #politics #news #jimmykimmel
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As Bishop Fisher travels to Rome next month, a flashback to the time I called Bishop Malone's cell phone when he was at the Vatican and he actually answered (and immediately regretted doing so).
My phone call with @BishopRJMalone from Rome. Watch @WKBW at 5 and 6 for more context and reaction from abuse survivors.
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@SeanMickey7 3) So we tried another way: FOILing the DA's office, which keeps Brady material and other files about police w/credibility issues. After 4 months of back & forth, here's our story about the DA's denial, which an open government expert called "bogus." https://t.co/bY0Q8xOEW1
wgrz.com
A FOIL request for Chief D.J. Granville’s personnel file was denied, raising new questions about transparency in the Erie County DA’s office.
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2) @SeanMickey7 and I tried to fact-check that statement, but we knew we couldn't start with the sheriff's office because they routinely deny FOIL requests for even basic disciplinary files. https://t.co/3HnGxOcVOV
wgrz.com
Howard, his predecessor, released similar files to the public.
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