BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The attorney who leaked video of the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery says he did so in order to provide "absolute transparency" in the case.
The video ignited a firestorm of criticism and national attention, and appears to have pushed prosecutors to commit to bringing the case before a grand jury.
Alan Tucker does not currently represent the two men involved in the Feb. 23 shooting, neither of whom have been charged with any crime. But he has been publicly aligned with them.
Earlier Thursday, Tucker told First Coast News he has not been formally retained to represent Travis and Greg McMichaels because no charges have been filed against them and no arrests made in the case. The McMichaels have not commented publicly on the case.
Questions about why he leaked the video, since it seems to have generated even more controversy around the shooting and possibly more trouble for the McMichaels, have swirled in recent days.
In a statement issued via email Thursday afternoon, Tucker said, "I didn't release this [video] to 'show that they did nothing wrong,' as is being circulated. I was raised in this community. I love this community ... My sole purpose in releasing the video was absolute transparency because my community was being ripped apart by erroneous accusations and assumptions."
Tucker told First Coast News the Georgia Bureau of Investigation asked Travis McMichael for a statement, but he advised him to stick with the statement he gave police and "to keep his mouth shut."
He said the McMichaels have cooperated fully with the investigation, and that "the video has been in possession of police since day one."
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