Ayanna Pressley Calls for “Compassionate Release” of Prisoners to Fight Coronavirus

In an interview with MSNBC over the weekend, US Congresswoman and member of ‘The Squad’ Ayanna Pressley advocated for a “compassionate release” of prisoners due to the Coronavirus while saying that “95 percent” of inmates eventually will be released anyway. She said the Bureau of Prisons has the authority “to exact clemency commutations and compassionate release and they should be doing that.”

.@AyannaPressley on the coronavirus possibly spreading to prison populations: “Now would be the time to commute some sentences, to exact clemency and to take care of our most vulnerable. 10% of those incarcerated are over the age of 60 and already have an underlying condition.” pic.twitter.com/P9PurLJQsc

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 14, 2020

Prior to going on the show, she released a series of tweets saying that prisoners are a “vulnerable population that has been ignored during #COVID19 response” and that “prisons can be incubators for infectious disease.”

One vulnerable population that has been ignored during #COVID19 response are the 2.3 million people in prison who are at high risk for virus spreading. Prisons can be incubators for infectious disease.

I’ll be discussing this & more w/ @TheRevAl shortly on @MSNBC #TuneIn

— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) March 14, 2020

We requested a copy of the Bureau of Prisons’ emergency management plan & of course they failed to respond in the timeline allotted, which is woefully inadequate and unacceptable as we fight to contain #coronavirus. To read our full letter: https://t.co/fg6PGnvnsU

— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) March 14, 2020

The next day, a Twitter user responded to those tweets, questioned the remarks, saying, “Of course her main concern is criminals in a time like this. Not surprising.” Pressley replied back that she was “concerned about those incarcerated, corrections officers & all staff.” She then accused the justice system of failing the American people and apparently trying to excuse those who are locked up by asking, “Further, do you know how many people are incarcerated who’ve been convicted of zero crimes & just can’t afford cash bail? Or are there b/c we criminalize substance use disorders, mental health etc.”

Yes, I am concerned about those incarcerated, corrections officers & all staff. Further, do you know how many people are incarcerated who’ve been convicted of zero crimes & just can’t afford cash bail? Or are there b/c we criminalize substance use disorders, mental health etc

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 15, 2020

Left-wing author Jason Overstreet summed it up best (or worst) in a previous tweet by saying, “I need Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris and Katie Porter and Val Demings and Rachel Maddow and Ayanna Pressley and AOC and Stacey Abrams and Joy Reid and Sally Yates to just run every damn thing in America. Everyone else just needs to get the f*ck out of the way.”

Updated:

I need Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris and Katie Porter and Val Demings and Rachel Maddow and Ayanna Pressley and AOC and Stacey Abrams and Joy Reid and Sally Yates to just run every damn thing in America.

Everyone else just needs to get the f*ck out of the way.

— Jason Overstreet (@JasonOverstreet) March 12, 2020