Over the weekend, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar called out GOP Sen. Tom Cotton for his opposition to a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill:
“Mr. Cotton (perhaps loudest critic of sentencing changes) urged colleagues to slow down, saying that the bill’s implications were too expansive to push through without hearings” REALLY? We’ve had multiple hearings. Time for action. Pass #FirstStepAct https://t.co/kzZ9nyBfRR
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 17, 2018
Cotton pushed back:
There have been no hearings on this bill. Why are proponents afraid of hearings & letting members find out what’s in it? Maybe because it gives early release to “low level, nonviolent” criminals like those convicted of assaulting police, even with deadly weapons (USC 111(a))… https://t.co/lQnYGfF1o0
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 17, 2018
Or that it gives early release to “low level, nonviolent” criminals who steal passports & immigration docs from aliens who have been trafficked to keep them in captivity (USC 1592(a)). Hearings & open debate would bring needed daylight…
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 17, 2018
The "final" text of the FIRST STEP Act was only released yesterday, and details seem to continue to change. If it’s finalized & ready for a vote, why offer to keep changing it?
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 17, 2018
But it looks like he can’t count on GOP Sen. Mike Lee to defend him on this particular issue:
I highly respect my colleague from Arkansas but everything in his tweet and this thread is 100% Fake News. 1/ https://t.co/fFeHMxLpBf
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2018
First, the House Judiciary committee passed the First Step Act out of committee on May 9 of this year, and the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the highly similar Sentencing and Corrections Act out of committee on Feb 15 of this year. These are not new policies. 2/
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2018
Second, and more importantly, the First Step Act does not “give early release” to anyone. Anyone claiming it does, does not understand how the bill works. 3/
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2018
What the First Step Act does do is encourage rehabilitation by incentivizing inmates to participate in recidivism reduction programs by giving them time credits that can help them qualify for prerelease custody. 4/
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2018
Nothing in the First Step Act gives inmates early release. It only incentivizes participation in recidivism reduction programs. At all times the Bureau of Prisons retains all authority over who does and does not qualify for early release. 5/
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2018
If @SenTomCotton has good faith problems with this bill then he should welcome a full and open debate on the Senate floor where he can offer amendments to provisions he finds objectionable. But first this bill needs to be brought to the Senate floor so debate can begin. /END
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 19, 2018
That … seems pretty reasonable, actually. Think Sen. Cotton agrees? Stay tuned!
— Ryan (@alwaysonoffense) November 19, 2018
DRAG HIM SENATOR https://t.co/bTVawNVt71
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) November 19, 2018
***
Update:
Cotton is pushing back against Lee’s criticisms:
.@SenMikeLee no early release? Look at text. Eligible prisoners – including those who assault law enforcement officers with deadly weapons – earn new “time credits” for “pre-release custody or supervised release," which is why sheriffs call this dangerous. https://t.co/a8ahFebRVU
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 19, 2018
Look at the bill. Inmates also get early release in many other sections, including retroactive application of Fair Sentencing Act, reduced punishments for trafficking fentanyl under 841(b), and retroactive expansion of “Good Time” credits. pic.twitter.com/snCtIcHjJh
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 19, 2018