New Black Panther leader defends Holder decision

DALLAS (AP) - The leader of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense says the U.S. Justice Department was right to drop a voter intimidation suit against his group because the case was weak.
New Black Panther Party National Chairman Malik Shabazz says recent attempts to question that ruling are nothing more than a "political witch hunt" Republicans are waging against Attorney General Eric Holder.

Shabazz says his group does not condone voter intimidation and suspended the member who stood outside a Philadelphia polling place with a nightstick during last year's presidential election.

The Justice Department filed an injunction against that man.

Shabazz says he wants to set the record straight as the group's three-day national summit begins in Dallas Friday.