The following is my opinion after attending the “community leaders” meeting held yesterday and sponsored by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
For the past several weeks the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Lui, [https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/new-bill-seeks-make-over-500-violent-criminals-including-many-rapists-and-murderers] has been pushing back against legislation, [http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/41814/B23-0127-Introduction.pdf], known as the “2nd Chance Act” pending in the Council of the District of Columbia to allow incarcerated youths up age 25 to petition to the court to have their prison sentences reduced for an early release.
The public relations push back campaign by the US Attorney for the District of Columbia Lui, against the legislation is so intense the USAO_DC has created its own rhetorical version of President Trump’s “Sharpie” moment. During its community leaders meeting held yesterday (with local media present) to explain its opposition to the 2nd Chance Act” legislation, the USAO_DC made a clear and false statement about Attorney General for the District of Columbia Karl Racine.
Not revealing my position on the proposed legislation, I asked USAO_DC Lui to square her strong opposition to the “2nd Chance Act” legislation, while her office is supporting and recommending the early release for convicted felon and drug kingpin Mr. Rayful Edmond. The immediate response from the USAO_DC was the early release for Mr. Edmond is being pushed AG Racine. This is false. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/dc-drug-kingpin-rayful-edmond-iii-has-helped-put-others-behind-bars-and-deserves-a-sentence-reduction-prosecutors-say/2019/02/15/182d790a-2f40-11e9-813a-0ab2f17e305b_story.html]
When I challenged this false or graciously termed misstatement there was not any correction. The amicus curiae brief filed by AG Racine, https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/Rayful-Edmond-Amicus-Brief.pdf states, “Attorney General Racine does not adopt a position” on the early release request.
When I, further challenged the USAO_DC’s statement the District has the “lowest incarceration rate in the country” and its mischaracterization the Mayor, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, nine (9) members of the Council of the District of Columbia and the nearly 197 public witnesses from across the District testifying on behalf of the “2nd Chance Act” legislation, as not supporting public safety for the citizens of the District, the USAO_DC threatened to ask me, like Elvis, to leave the building.
I will not be silent…for as long as I am breathing. I take a backseat to no one in fighting crime in the District of Columbia. I, and members of my family, too have been victims of crime. The USAO_DC is entitled to its own opinion, but not its own facts.
The U.S. Attorney Office for the District of Columbia owes an apology to the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, the Council of the District of Columbia and citizens of the District of Columbia. If you believe in good government, if you believe in open government, if you believe in an ethical government; you cannot disagree, neither can The editorial board of The Washington Post.
Robert Vinson Brannum
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner – 5E08
“And I will not be silent…” - to injustice, racism, bigotry and white supremcy - “…as long as I am breathing.”
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