Batkid Captures Obama and the Justice Department's Attention

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By Fran Berkman2013-11-15 23:04:40 UTC

It's not often a U.S. Department of Justice press release and indictment will leave you grinning from ear to ear, but these may do the trick.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California issued a release Thursday thanking Batkid, a 5-year-old leukemia patient named Miles, for booking notorious criminals Edward “E.” Nigma, a.k.a., “The Riddler,” and Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, a.k.a., “The Penguin.”

See also: Batkid Begins: Saves 'Gotham,' Captivates Internet

The Make-a-Wish Foundation, to fulfill Miles' wish of being Batman for a day, rallied thousands of San Franciscans to the cause. During his special day, Batman chauffeured Miles around San Francisco Gotham City in a Lamborghini Batcar. The heroic Miles rescued an unnamed female from the path of a cable car, thwarted a bank robbery and saved San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal from a kidnapping.

The press release, like most from the DoJ, even includes a prepared statement from the U.S. Attorney herself.

“We’ve been chasing Nigma and Cobblepot for years and just when I was about to give up hope that we would ever bring them to justice, wouldn’t you know it – Batkid shows up and saves the day,” said United States Attorney Melinda Haag. “I’ve been involved in some unbelievable cases and I’ve worked with some pretty remarkable law enforcement officers, but the bravery displayed by Batkid is off the charts. I’m absolutely certain that there is no villain this remarkable super-hero can’t defeat.”

And a statement from the FBI:

“I’ve talked a lot about cooperation in the past with other outstanding law enforcement partners, but I can honestly say we broke some new ground today,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson. “The FBI and the San Francisco Police Department are good, but if it wasn’t for Batkid, I guarantee you that these two villains would still be at-large on the streets of Gotham today. Citizens of this great city are not only safer tonight because of Batkid, but they will undoubtedly be humbled by the courage he has displayed in battles he has taken on and won.”

Miles' efforts have allowed the DoJ to issue a "unique and somewhat unprecedented indictment" (yes, they wrote an indictment) outlining not only the charges against The Riddler and The Penguin, but also praising Batkid's "shrewd crime fighting efforts."

By comparison, the topics covered in the previous few press releases on the Northern District of California site include tax fraud, illegal shark sales, typhoon relief and gang violence.

It's not just the DoJ though; Miles' heroics earned him accolades from the highest office in the land.

At last check, Batkid was headed to City Hall to meet the mayor.

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Image: Ramin Talaie/Getty Images

Topics: Batkid, Department of Justice, Make a Wish, San Francisco-San Jose, Social Good, U.S., US & World