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.”
Trump admin threatens Iran with ‘consequences’ as allies convene amid threats of post-election escalation
Watch: Muslim Debater Begs Security to Remove Christian Apologist After He Tells the Truth About Islam
Watch: Parents Say Soccer Officials Called Cops on Their Toddler Because He Was Too Good
Trump push to oust Omar faces historic Supreme Court test, but legal experts see ‘uncharted’ twist
An art museum to visit in sneakers
Democrats are likely to come up short in Florida. They’re still giving Republicans a scare
Federal judge blocks Trump DOJ threats against election workers ahead of 2026 midterms
California woman accused of killing trans son-in-law puts blame on husband in new docs: reports
Polish president forces his way into high court after dramatic return as supporters clash with police
Sheriff’s department gives update on Nancy Guthrie case 9 months after kidnapping
CEO of California-Based In-N-Out Burger Teases Major Expansion East
Oregon teacher who wrestled shotgun from school gunman shares emotional message after attack
Masked Invaders Stage Terrifying Armed Attack on CEO’s Family Home: Both Daughters Shot, Wife Struck with Hammer
Carney aims for June deal with EU to define ‘associate member’ status in bid to undercut US influence
EXCLUSIVE: ICE captures illegal alien at center of NYC manhunt after sanctuary city release
“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.”
