Saturday during an interview with MSNBC’s Al Sharpton, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), a member of the liberal congressional foursome known as “The Squad,” argued now may be the time to commute sentences of some federal prisoners given their vulnerability to coronavirus.
Pressley said she and other congressional Democrats were lobbying the Bureau of Prisons for “compassionate” releases.
“[W]hen we are talking about our most vulnerable, our low-income residents and those experiencing homelessness, our seniors and that we are also including the incarcerated men and women, who are amongst one of the most vulnerable populations and given the crowding and overpopulating in our prisons for a confluence of other reasons we won’t get into in this interview, Rev., buy you are certainly well aware of, are an ecosystem and a petri dish for the spreading of this pandemic, which is why I partnered with my colleagues, Representatives [Nydia] Velázquez, [Alexandria] Ocasio-Cortez and [Rashida] Tlaib, to lobby the Bureau of Prisons to use their full power to communicate guidance for how we will contain and mitigate this epidemic behind the wall.”
Delcy Rodríguez considering visit to US after meeting with energy secretary
Senate Democrats weigh skipping Trump State of the Union address
Possible tattoo seen in Nancy Guthrie video may help ID subject, former profiler says
House Passes SAVE Act: Only One Democrat Voted for Proof of Citizenship in US Elections
Homan announces Operation Metro Surge to conclude in Minnesota
DEI, climate agenda advanced through progressive-backed lawsuits, new report claims
Nancy Mace Says She’s Seen Unredacted Epstein List, Which Shields ‘Prime Ministers’ and ‘Former Presidents’
Florida man suspected of killing 6 in shooting spree at 2 residences identified
GOP leaders want Trump to endorse Cornyn in Texas Senate primary amid fears of costly fight
House Republican Greg Steube introduces bill to nix controversial H-1B visa program
Minivan mom puts Dem incumbent on notice in top GOP target district: ‘She has done nothing for us’
Gabbard ends task force that aimed to reform intelligence gathering after less than a year
Florida man allegedly points gun at multiple drivers during road rage confrontation
IRS erroneously shared confidential immigrant taxpayer data with DHS: court filing
Federal Judge releases four illegal immigrants convicted of murder, sex crimes from ICE Custody
“Specifically, do they have access to testing? Secondly, has anyone tested positive, and what are the quarantine measures? Again given the overpopulating and the fact that many of these facilities are already subpar and that incarcerated men and women do not have access to soap, to alcohol-based hand sanitizers — and to regular showers, what is the guidance for those incarcerated and for staff? And that the B.O.P. Use their full powers, I think now would be the time to commute some sentences, to exact clemency and to take care of our most our vulnerable. Ten percent of those incarcerated are over the age of 60 and already have an underlying condition. We should be using compassionate release.”
