8/23/2018

JEFF SESSIONS/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/PRISONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Justice Department on Thursday [8-23-18] praised President Donald Trump’s decision not to back a prison and sentencing reform bill that was crafted by top Republican leaders and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser…Trump met with Kushner, who has made prison reform a priority; Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley at the White House on Thursday to discuss the bill. The president declined to endorse the bill, citing the midterm elections, Axios reported. The bill drew backlash from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who called the proposal a ‘jailbreak’ that would ‘let serious felons back on the streets.’ It has, however, received bipartisan support, with Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) backing the package. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said on Wednesday [8-22-18] that the Senate wouldn’t take up any new package of prison and sentencing reforms before the midterms.”

Rebecca Morin, “DOJ praises Trump’s choice not to endorse prison reform bill,” Politico, August 23, 2018 7:05 pm