ATLANTA, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Longstanding U.S. civil-rights cases haven't been solved despite promises made during the Bush administration to pursue racially motivated crimes, critics say.
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales warned in 2007 killers of blacks during the civil rights era: "You have not gotten away with anything. We are still on your trail." But there have been no federal indictments since that announcement, The New York Times reported Monday.
Families of victims who were killed in racially motivated crimes more than 40 years ago are still waiting for resolution despite the millions of dollars authorized by Congress to finance the Civil Rights-Era Cold Case Initiative heralded by Gonzales' statement, the newspaper said.
No FBI field agents have been assigned to pursue the cases full-time and time is running out, the Times reported.
Attorney General Eric Holder pointed out 56 of 109 cases have been closed, with many more on the brink of closing. But critics say that's due to some cases being shut down because they are long-shots or the suspects are dead.
Federal officials objected to the criticism, saying they have an obligation to review every case.
"The goal of the cold case initiative is about more than bringing justice to bear in these cases; it is also about telling the truth to these families and hopefully bringing about some closure," Michael Kortan, a spokesman for the FBI, said.
