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Welcome to The Logoff: In a serious reversal from the Biden administration, the Justice Division is asking for a token one-day jail sentence for an ex-police officer who fired photographs into Breonna Taylor’s dwelling throughout a deadly raid in March 2020.
Why is that this within the information now? Brett Hankison, a former Louisville, Kentucky, officer, is ready to be sentenced subsequent week after being convicted final yr of violating Taylor’s civil rights. He may face a most sentence of as much as life in jail — however below the DOJ request, would in the end serve no time.
What did Hankison do? Hankison was considered one of a number of officers to execute a raid on Taylor’s condo in March 2020. He blindly fired 10 photographs into her condo by means of a coated window and door, a few of which entered an occupied adjoining condo. Not one of the bullets Hankison fired in the end struck an individual, however Taylor was shot and killed by one other Louisville police officer.
What does the DOJ request imply for Hankison? If the decide — a Trump appointee — adheres to the DOJ sentencing memo, Hankison won’t ever return to jail for his conviction. The memo requests that he obtain credit score for time already served, rendering even the single-day sentence irrelevant. It additionally calls for 3 years of supervised launch and a meager advantageous as a part of the sentence.
Why does this matter? Breonna Taylor’s dying was considered one of a number of high-profile police killings in early 2020 that led to widespread racial justice protests following the homicide of George Floyd that Could. Since then, strides — although usually halting and imperfect — have been made towards police accountability and addressing racial discrimination in policing. The DOJ sentencing memo is the most recent signal of the Trump administration’s full lack of curiosity in these efforts and choice to roll the clock again to an earlier period.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
Hello readers! A second thank-you in as many days on your emails — I actually appreciated all the animal photographs.
Right now, I wished to focus on this podcast by my colleague Sean Illing, concerning the concept of “hopeful pessimism.” Sean talks with Mara van der Lugt about what the time period means and tips on how to maintain hope once you’re feeling pessimistic. As she places it, hope will be “oriented not on certainty or expectation, however slightly on the openness of the long run” and a dedication to our values. It’s a captivating, beautiful dialogue that’s actually price your time — I hope you’re taking a second to pay attention.
