Two members of the Democratic Party ‘squad’ are touting their views in favor of abolishing federal prisons and quashing ‘excessive bai...
Two members of the Democratic Party ‘squad’ are touting their views in favor of abolishing federal prisons and quashing ‘excessive bail’ just a day after a convicted felon who was out on bail mowed down scores of people with his SUV in suburban Milwaukee, killing five.
House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez provoked rage on social media on Monday for demanding answers on ‘excessive bail’ that is imposed by prosecutors in New York City on Monday.
Meanwhile, fellow ‘squad’ member House Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the Democrat from Michigan, had trouble explaining her support for a law that would empty federal prisons within a period of 10 years.
The comments prompted harsh criticism on Twitter, where people accused the progressive lawmakers of being tone deaf to air their views while the community of Waukesha grieves the loss of life from Sunday’s tragedy.
Darrell Brooks Jr, the alleged SUV driver who plowed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, killing at least five people and injuring 48, was out on $1,000 bail at the time of the tragedy.
Brooks has been charged with crimes 16 times since 1999 and had two outstanding cases against him at the time of the parade disaster - including one in which he was accused of deliberately running down a woman with his vehicle.
Brooks has two open criminal cases in Milwaukee County.
In one case, filed November 5, he is charged with resisting or obstructing an officer, reckless endangering, disorderly conduct, bail jumping and battery.
Two members of the Democratic Party ‘squad’ - Rashida Tlaib (left) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (right) - are touting their views in favor of abolishing federal prisons and quashing ‘excessive bail’ just a day after a convicted felon who was out on bail mowed down scores of people with his SUV in suburban Milwaukee, killing five
Darrell Brooks Jr, a convicted felon and the alleged SUV driver who plowed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, killing at least five people and injuring 48, was out on $1,000 bail at the time of the tragedy on Sunday
Brooks was allegedly behind the wheel of the red Ford SUV (bottom) when he plowed into scores of paradegoers in Waukesha, Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon
The Waukesha tragedy, however, did not stop Ocasio-Cortez and two of her Democratic colleagues from raising the issue of ‘excessive bail’ in New York City.
The New York congresswoman announced on Monday that she and two other Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee were seeking information on ‘prosecutors’ use of excessive bail in the New York City court system.’
Ocasio-Cortez, House Rep. Jamie Raskin, and House Rep. Carolyn Maloney wrote to the district attorneys of all five New York City boroughs.
‘We have grave concerns that excessive bail amounts are leading to unnecessary pretrial detention and contributing to a humanitarian crisis in New York City’s jail system, particularly on Rikers Island,’ the three Democrats wrote in their letter.
Ocasio-Cortez, House Rep. Jamie Raskin, and House Rep. Carolyn Maloney wrote to the district attorneys of all five New York City boroughs
‘We have grave concerns that excessive bail amounts are leading to unnecessary pretrial detention and contributing to a humanitarian crisis in New York City’s jail system, particularly on Rikers Island,’ the three Democrats wrote in their letter
Conditions on Rikers Island, New York City's most notorious jail, have deteriorated to the point where activists have called for its closure
They note that ‘fourteen people have died this year in the custody of New York City Department of Correction.’
‘Condemning thousands of individuals to languish in an environment plagued by persistent overcrowding and mounting violence as they await trial is not acceptable, and risks violating the federal civil rights of these individuals.
‘If these conditions are not addressed, federal intervention may be necessary to protect detainees from additional harm.’
State and local officials in New York have been struggling to address what has been called a ‘humanitarian crisis’ in the city’s jails, among them Rikers Island.
Some Twitter users, however, said that the timing of the letter was inappropriate given Sunday’s horrific events in Waukesha.
One Twitter user wrote: 'This is your first tweet you decided to put out after what just happened in Waukesha?!
'An entire community was just affected by a violent criminal released from jail on an "Inappropriately low" bail and this is seriously the cause you wanted to tweet out today!'
Another Twitter user commented: 'Interesting. If the prosecutors in Waukesha had maintained a decent bail system, quite a few people wouldn’t have been killed yesterday.
'Your timing on this is, as usual, AWFUL.'
Another commented: 'I'm not even right wing - and this is absolutely insane.'
A Twitter user wrote: 'This tweet could not be more tone deaf or irresponsible. This is wrong.'
Another critic chimed in: 'Well we just witnessed those pesky unintended consequences of these policies in Wisconsin yesterday.
'Better rethink those policies.
'Time is running out for the squad. Next November bail reform is now on ballot.'
Another Twitter user remarked: 'How about we let repeat offenders out on $1000 bail. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, wait.'
A Twitter user wrote: 'Seriously? A man out on $1,000 bail just killed 5 people and injured more than 40 others - including many children.'
Tlaib has defended a proposal that would see all inmates in the federal prison system released within 10 years
Meanwhile, Tlaib appeared on Axios on HBO where she was questioned by journalist Jonathan Swan about her support for the BREATHE Act.
Tlaib and fellow ‘squad’ member Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts have touted the proposal, which was put together following the May 2020 police-involved death of George Floyd.
The proposed bill calls for repealing the 1994 crime bill and the ‘three-strikes’ law; abolishing mandatory minimum sentencing laws and life sentences; and eventually closing all federal prisons and immigration detention centers.
When Swan noted that the BREATHE Act calls for closing federal prisons within 10 years, Tlaib said: ‘[E]veryone’s like, “Oh my God, we’re going to just release everybody.” That’s not…’
Swan then interjected, saying that the proposal ‘actually says release everyone’ from federal prisons within 10 years.
He then asked Tlaib if she has considered the possible downsides of releasing violent criminals from prisons.
‘But did you see how many people are mentally ill that are in prison right now?’ Tlaib responded.
‘But there are, like, human traffickers,’ Swan said.
Tlaib responded: 'Oh, I know. ... Look at who's in prison now ... folks that are mentally ill, that have substance-abuse problems ... And obviously there's a process of looking at how can we get away from mass incarceration, and move towards care first.'
Twitter users reacted angrily to Tlaib’s comments.
'We need to defund Tlaib and any radical like her,' Schuyler McHenry tweeted.
'We just saw what happens with cheap bail in Waukesha.'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'If you are horrified by what happened at the Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin...How the suspect has a long criminal Record yet freed...Rashida Tlaib's Breathe Act policy would guarantee more heinous acts to occur and be repeated...
'Why are Victims Ignored?'
Will Richardson tweeted: 'Defund the police, reparations,CRT, and now this stroke of abject stupidity.
'Are these people deliberately sabotaging their own party next year?'
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