Lawmaker: Conspiracy in Tupac killing

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 | 7:14 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A conspiracy theory is brewing in Congress, but it has nothing to do with the typical inside-the-Beltway preoccupations: Did the government take part in a conspiracy to kill rapper Tupac Shakur?

While conspiracy theorists are still plumbing Shakur's unsolved Las Vegas murder, a member of Congress wants some answers.

Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., has introduced a bill aimed at uncovering documents in the death investigation of Shakur, who was shot in 1996 at Koval Lane and East Flamingo Road.

But, adding to the mystery in this conspiracy, she won't say why.

Approached outside her congressional office on Wednesday, McKinney refused to comment to a reporter about her own bill -- a Washington rarity.

She appeared surprised by the question and asked a reporter if it was his "modus operandi" to catch lawmakers in the halls of their office buildings -- it's a common practice on Capitol Hill.

Before walking away she referred questions about the bill to her staff.

McKinney's bill would have the National Archives collect "all government records on the life and death" of Shakur, which her bill says "should be preserved for historical and governmental purposes."

Theories about Shakur's murder have abounded. In 2002 the Los Angeles Times concluded that rival rapper Notorious B.I.G., who was later killed, masterminded the slaying. That's too simple an answer for many people.

More wild theories suggest links to the John F. Kennedy assassination -- or that Shakur is still alive.

And several have pointed to possible government links.

Does McKinney suspect the feds were in on it?

Reached by the Sun, McKinney aide John Judge said he could not say if his boss believes the government played a role in the slaying.

But Judge said there was extensive government surveillance of Shakur. Judge mused that if there was not direct government involvement, perhaps indirect involvement could have triggered the murder -- or perhaps the surveillance officers could be guilty of not acting to thwart the killing.

The bill, quietly introduced Nov. 2, directs the release of certain undisclosed records and sets up a panel to review other materials that might be eligible for disclosure. The bill is modeled after another McKinney bill aimed at probing the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.

"We know that in 1999 a jury determined that there was a conspiracy to kill Dr. King that included our own government," McKinney was quoted as saying in the Internet publication BlackElectorate.com.

(In 1999 a Tennessee jury found that a Memphis businessman and other "unnamed conspirators" were involved in King's 1968 death. King family lawyers argued that there was a vast conspiracy including members of the Mafia and the federal government, according to the Associated Press.)

The legislation grew from two panel discussions McKinney hosted in September at a Congressional Black Caucus event, attended by Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, Judge said. The panels explored the role of the FBI in the lives of black musicians.

"There is obviously a great deal of public interest, and there are a lot of unanswered questions about these unsolved murders," Judge said.

McKinney has dabbled in conspiracies before. She is well known in Washington for suggesting in a 2002 radio interview that the Bush administration knew the Sept. 11 attacks were coming but did nothing to stop them. Critics said she lost her seat in 2002 because of the remarks. She was re-elected in 2004. McKinney has also suggested that President Bush allies "stole" the 2000 election.

McKinney's Shakur bill is drawing media attention, but likely won't get any from Congress.

The Washington Post's Style section on Wednesday introduced a blurb about the McKinney bill with "Your tax dollars at work:" The item noted the bill was referred to the House Government Reform Committee, "where it will likely languish for a very long time."

If Republican Rep. Jon Porter -- the only Nevadan on the committee -- is any indication, the Post is probably right. Porter's spokesman said Wednesday night that the congressman is focusing on "more pressing matters."

Benjamin Grove can be reached at (202) 662-7436 or at grove@lasvegassun.com.