ORLANDO, Fla. – George Zimmerman's newly relaunched website – one he is producing outside of the defense team's control – included criticism of his own legal defense team's site, although the comments were later removed, Local 6 has learned.
Wednesday night, statements on TheRealGeorgeZimmerman.com complained that the official GZlegalcase.com site "has fallen short" in three areas: "Disputing misinformation;" "Providing a voice for George;" and "Raising funds."
Recommended Videos
The independent site was reestablished, in part, to "pick up the slack," the website page stated Wednesday.
But by Thursday the entire "About" page containing those comments was no longer on TheRealGeorgeZimmerman.com site.
Asked by Local 6 about the criticisms, Zimmerman's attorney, former Local 6 legal analyst Mark O'Mara, said he could not comment because he had not seen them.
But, he added, they would not signal a deterioration in the attorney-client relationship. There is "no schism whatsoever," he said. "George and I are doing well. The whole defense team is doing very well … We are one absolutely cohesive team."
Asked why Zimmerman would risk doing a national television interview while facing criminal charges that carry a maximum life sentence, O'Mara said, "This is a decision made by George to get his story out" and, he hoped, would raise money for his defense fund.
But Fox News never mentioned the websites that link to the defense fund donation page, and only about $1,500 trickled into the fund overnight. That compares to about $60,000 raised on the day the defense fund got its first mentions on Fox News in April.
"My understanding is it was going to be spoken about" during the hour-long Sean Hannity show, O'Mara said, adding there was "disappointment" the site was not referenced.
On Thursday, Zimmerman also posted a video on his website, thanking his supporters. You can watch the video by clicking here.
"This is our website, it's not my website, it is our website where you can personally communicate with me and I hope to be your website to provide facts," Zimmerman says. "I will be frequently updating this website so check back often and spread the word to your family and friends. Once again, I humbly thank you."
The video is about two minutes long and is in both English and Spanish.