FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2020
Contact: Reynolds Graves | rgraves@skdknick.com | 313.205.8675
STATEMENT ON ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR’S BLATANT FALSEHOOD ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK —Today, United States Attorney General William Barr in a speech to the Major County Sheriffs of America Winter Conference completely mischaracterized a recent tragedy on Long Island by blaming the new pretrial laws that went into effect on January 1, 2020 – and even went so far as to fabricate facts and individuals around the case. In response to Mr. Barr’s recent comments, Khalil Cumberbatch, Chief Strategist for New Yorkers United for Justice, made the following statement:
“Attorney General Barr can’t even lie straight. It’s egregious. If he’s going to name-check New York events, he should at least approach it with the respect that a tragedy deserves, instead of cavalierly playing fast and loose with critical details to exploit a man’s death for political ends.
“Here are the facts:
“A witness to a gang assault was killed on Long Island. But that’s all we know. Let’s be clear: there is no such MS-13 member released under new laws. This never happened, there is no such person, and no such case. It is totally fabricated. New Yorkers should ask themselves why the Attorney General of the United States is lying to them about criminal justice reform.
“We need responsibility and leadership from local officials all the way up to the Attorney General. Enough with the falsehoods. We deserve better, and we call on the Attorney General to immediately correct the record.”
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