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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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national lead
Brown family lawyer confident Officer Wilson will be convicted
(CNN) – For the family of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old shot dead by a white police officer, what does justice look like? If there is a thorough hearing, and evidence is brought before the grand jury, and there is not enough to indict the officer, is that justice?
No, says a family lawyer.
FULL POST
world lead
Navy SEAL: White House should not have revealed any information about failed rescue mission
(CNN) – Before American journalist James Foley was executed by the terrorists known as ISIS, the militants had tried to squeeze a ransom out of the United States, asking for more than $130 million in exchange for his life, according to Foley's former employer, the GlobalPost.
The U.S. has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
The White House said there was a rescue attempt to save Foley and other ISIS hostages, a special operation that was launched early this summer that ultimately failed.
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national lead
Rep. Clay has 'serious concerns' about Ferguson's local prosecutor
(CNN) – Clashes between protesters and police in Ferguson, Missouri, have calmed down over the last two days. The National Guard will slowly be leaving the are, according to Gov. Jay Nixon. And Attorney General Eric Holder visited Ferguson Wednesday pledging to the community that the federal investigation into the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown would be "fair and independent."
"The community feels better, and knows that the federal government is now taking an expansive view of this case," said Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Missouri, whose district includes Ferguson.
And that federal presence is necessary to ensure a fair investigation, says the congressman.
FULL POST
national lead
Some tough questions for St. Louis police chief about Tuesday shooting
(CNN) – St. Louis police shot and killed a young African-American man Tuesday after authorities say he brandished a knife.
But did officers follow protocol? Why did they fire nine shots? Why didn't they use tasers? Was there some other way to defuse the situation other than killing him?
CNN's Jake Tapper poses these questions, and more, to St. Louis police chief Sam Dotson in the video above.
national lead
What are police taught to do if they feel their lives are being threatened?
(CNN) – It is now clear that the account the police chief of St. Louis gave about the police shooting of a young African-American male on Tuesday – that he "pulled out a knife and came at the officers, gripping and holding it high" – is not true.
After CNN obtained cell phone video of the incident and notified the police about that fact, the police released the video to the public, which shows the young man was not holding the knife high at all.
There are other questions about that shooting of a man the neighborhood knew to be emotionally distressed, including why the two officers shot him nine times.
And the larger issue at play with this and the shooting of Michael Brown – just what are cops taught to do if they feel their lives are being threatened?
CNN's Jake Tapper reports.
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