Trump Slams Corrupt Justice System that Jailed ‘Thousands’ Unjustly

Feb. 21, 2020 (EIRNS)—In a moving, laughter-filled address to graduates of the Hope for Prisoners program in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday, President Donald Trump reminded graduates that “you are made by God for a great and noble purpose ... and you’re valued members of our American family,” who should look forward to a rewarding future in society, with the tools to be successful. The Hope for Prisoners program trains inmates in a variety of areas—job training, leadership training, professional development training, technology training, and much more—providing them mentoring and support once they reenter the community.

In his speech, the President reminded the graduates that when he ran for President, he pledged to fight “for those who have been forgotten, neglected, overlooked and ignored by politicians in our nation’s capital. And you understand that very well.” He addressed the issue of unjust sentencing, by which individuals have received lengthy sentences for non-violent crimes, going on that there are “thousands of people in prison” who have received such sentences. “You have thousands of people that shouldn’t be there, and I love finding those people.” He urged the graduates to send him recommendations of individuals they know who had been unjustly sentenced.

Trump also directly addressed the corruption of the justice system, which he said he was committed to “straightening out ... but we have to straighten it out also at the top level.” He raised the unfairness of the Roger Stone case, the fact that the forewoman of his jury was tainted with anti-Trump bias, and the details of the corruption of top-level FBI leadership—Comey, McCabe, Strzok and Lisa Page—the FBI “dirty cops.” The charge was that Stone lied, Trump said, but what about Comey, McCabe et al., who all lied outrageously. There were forged documents and fake dossiers, and leaking of classified documents, for which no one has been punished or jailed.

The President explained that he began to push for justice reform a year ago, to “redress unfairness in the justice system,” and was proud that his bill rolls back provisions of the “really terrible 1994 crime bill,” which “disproportionately impacted the African American community.” This message the new bill sends to prisoners, Trump said, is that “when you return to society, we are not going to leave you behind.... I’m here today because I believe in what you can do ... that America is a nation that believes in redemption ... we believe in second chances.”