Al Sharpton doubles down on Tawana Brawley rape accusation hoax: ‘Should I apologize?’

Rev. Al Sharpton refused to apologize for allegations he made that a 15-year-old black girl was raped by a group of white men in 1987, claims that were found to be false by a grand jury. 

But Sharpton doubled down on the controversial accusations he made in the notorious Tawana Brawley case as a guest on PBS show "Firing Line."

"Absolutely not," Sharpton told PBS host Margaret Hoover when asked if his opinion on the case has changed in 35 years. 

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"I have no evidence that I was misled," Sharpton added.

The one-time failed presidential candidate and civil rights activist repeatedly argued that the Brawley case should have gone to trial, instead of being found a hoax by a grand jury. 

"I don't have any different understanding because a grand jury is not a trial," Sharpton said. 

"My position was that there was this allegation from this young lady that was really questionable behavior by some that she accused," Sharpton said, referring to the six white men that were found to be falsely accused of raping the teenager.

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Some of the men who were accused of raping Brawley were police officers, making the case especially explosive for civil rights. 

But Sharpton was adamant that Brawley "deserved to have her day in court," despite conclusions that the claims were a hoax, according to a grand jury that was convened to hear the rape allegations.

Sharpton, who became famous as a boy preacher in Brooklyn, New York, accused the criminal justice system of being unfair. 

"There's a famous saying by a judge in New York: You can indict a ham sandwich if you want to," Sharpton told Hoover. 

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He also pointed the finger at the prosecutor who once charged him "with taking money from my youth group," a case that Sharpton said he beat in court. 

"So why would I believe [the prosecutor] with what he did with the grand jury when I saw what he did to me?"

The Tawana Brawley rape allegations shocked the country and helped launch Sharpton to the national stage after Brawley, a teenager the time, said she was allegedly raped in the woods by multiple white men in Wappingers Falls, New York

She also said that she was left wrapped in a feces-covered plastic bag with racial slurs written on her body. 

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report. 

California mass shooting: Who is suspect Huu Can Tran?

A mass shooting suspect has been found dead after allegedly killing 10 people and wounding 10 others in a Saturday night attack in Monterey Park, CA.

Huu Can Tran, 72, was discovered dead on Sunday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a white van in which authorities say the suspect had fled the scene. Tran was found in Torrance, which is located about 30 minutes from Monterey Park, along with a handgun and other pieces of evidence. Monterey Park is located on the eastern edge of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said no other suspects were at large and that a possible motive is unclear.

Five women and five men were left dead in the shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park and another 10 people were wounded, the sheriff's office said. The city in which the incident occurred has a large Asian population, and the shooting was carried out during Lunar New Year celebrations.

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Who is Huu Can Tran?

On Sunday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna identified Tran as the suspect in the Monterey Park shooting. Authorities discovered Tran dead in the van used to flee the scene of the shooting. A handgun was also found in the van found in Torrance.

It is not known if Tran was targeting individuals or firing indiscriminately when he began shooting.

He had reportedly attempted to carry out a second shooting in the Lai Lai Ballroom in the city of Alhambra about 30 minutes after the initial incident, but people at the location wrestled his handgun away from him before he fled.

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Tran's wife said in a media interview on Sunday that her husband used to give informal lessons at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.

Another long-time acquaintance also said Tran used to frequently visit the dance studio, although it is unclear when he last came to the studio.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.