James (Whitey) Bulger, a legendary Boston crime boss indicted in 19 murders and who is on the F.B.I.’s 10 Most Wanted list, was arrested by federal authorities Wednesday night in Santa Monica, ending an international manhunt that had gone on since Mr. Bulger disappeared nearly 16 years ago, the F.B.I. announced.Whitey Bulger was the boss of the Irish Winter Hill Gang for nearly 20 years. He either killed or ordered the killing of at least 19 people, probably a lot more. While he was running the gang, he fed information about his rivals, both inside and outside the gang, to the FBI. It is arguable that Bulger used the FBI as just another way to get at his enemies. Bulger likely had some involvement with the FBI's connivance at the wrongful conviction of four men, who then spent three decades in prison (two died there) before the survivors were freed (which cost the government over $100 million in damages).
I suspect that the FBI in the 1990s wasn't too interested in arresting Whitey Bulger and was more than happy that he was in the wind. By now, they probably think that with almost everyone from the FBI back in Whitey's day retired or dead, the stain on the FBI from what it did in Boston will be overlooked.
It must not be overlooked. The FBI has a very long record both framing people into prison and closing its eyes when it has cause to know that innocent people have been sent to prison.* The four guys from Boston spent their adult lives in prison because the FBI regarded their wrongful convictions as acceptable collateral damage.
The FBI has always regarded itself as being above the law. When the FBI announces something or says something, you should be reasonably skeptical.
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* Not to mention killing people.
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