Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA-The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has called on opposition politician and the Standard Bearer of the People’s Liberation party, Mr. Daniel Cassell, to officially recuse himself from all political activities in Liberia pending the outcome of his current trial in the United States.
In a press release issued on Monday, April 11, 2022 ALJA says while it believes that Mr. Cassell deserves his day in court and is innocent until proven guilty, it is however disappointed in the severity of the charges leveled against the opposition politician by the US criminal justice system.
Mr. Cassell was reportedly arrested on March 17, 2022 by the Clayton County Sheriff Office in the US state of Georgia as a fugitive from justice. Media reports quoting court records from Georgia have stated that Mr. Cassell entered the state with prior knowledge that he was wanted for the alleged commission of fraud, a felony offense, in the state of New Jersey.
According to the media report, Kwenyan and Associates Professional Health Services LLC in New Jersey, a mental health, behavioral and substance abuse agency owned by Mr. Cassell is also reportedly charged with four counts of felony by the State of New Jersey. These charges include intentional fraud by non-practitioner, obtaining improper benefits/kickbacks, and theft by deception.
ALJA says that these allegations of legal improprieties strip Mr. Cassell of any moral or political authority to function as a political leader at this time. “It is unimaginable for a political leader of Mr. Cassell’s repute to be accused of the violation of the law in a foreign land, least to be accused of absconding from the law,” ALJA’s President Joe Mason said in a release.
According to the Association, it is hypocritical for Mr. Cassell, who has consistently criticized the Weah’s government for acts of corruption to continue to conduct business as usual while these serious allegations are being adjudicated in a court of law.
The Association made particular reference to Mr. Cassell’s recent address to the Muslim community as the leader of the PLP on the observance of the holy month of Ramadan, where he failed to acknowledge and address the damning allegations against him. ALJA is therefore urging Mr. Cassell to the right thing by stepping aside from political activities in the country while he goes through the legal process.
Prior to the recent allegations of financial malpractices against Mr. Cassell and his entity by Federal Authorities in the Unted States, his People’s Liberation Party, PLP, was seen as a credible but distant alternative to the ruling Coalition of Democratic Change, CDC, government. The PLP vision bearer was also known for his humanitarian initiatives to individuals and organizations in the country.
ALJA is a conglomeration of current and retired Liberian journalists residing in the Americas. It is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. The Association was founded in 1998 with the objectives of fostering companionship amongst its members and their American counterparts.