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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump says he's freeing these inmates. His Justice Department wants them to stay in prison.
The five former inmates assembled on the White House stage werent scheduled to speak, but President Trump couldnt help himself. Wheres Gregory? Greg? he said. Come on, get up here!
From behind the president, Gregory Allen saluted and then made his way to the microphone. Two months ago I was in a prison cell, and Im in the White House, declared Allen, a Florida resident who had been freed under Trumps signature criminal justice legislation. Thats continuing to make America great again!
The gathering in April was a triumphant celebration of the First Step Act, the most sweeping overhaul of the federal criminal justice system in a generation. Since its passage nearly a year ago, the law has led to the release of more than 3,000 inmates including Allen, who was convicted of cocaine trafficking in 2001.
The Justice Department, though, had never wanted to let Allen out of prison. In fact, even as he and Trump shared a joyous embrace on television, federal prosecutors were trying to persuade a judge to put Allen back behind bars.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/trump-brags-that-his-landmark-law-freed-these-inmates-his-justice-department-wants-them-to-stay-in-prison/2019/11/07/5f075456-f5db-11e9-a285-882a8e386a96_story.html?wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1
TheRealNorth
(9,478 posts)While I Am supportive of reform, I was not thinking we would be releasing cocaine trafficker. Unless this guy was one of those charged for trafficking even though the amount he had was probably for personal use.
EX500rider
(10,842 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,648 posts)Justice reform is probably a universal desire, but that doesn't mean we should rush to release the wrong guys.
But then, Trump does like his criminals.
KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)I'm assuming Gregory Allen brought his long form birth certificate first....
Snort.
woodsprite
(11,913 posts)Omen78
(81 posts)Is prison reform. I don't even like handing them that one. It's a mantle we should have taken up years ago.