![]()
The Trump administration in May quietly altered an obscure prison policy that could give the Department of Justice more power to punish the president’s enemies and reward his allies.
kAmp C6G:D65 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D A@=:4J ?@H 8C2?ED &]$] pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= %@55 q=2?496 E96 2FE9@C:EJ E@ @G6CCF=6 E96 286?4JVD 8F:56=:?6D 2?5 F?:=2E6C2==J 56E6C>:?6 H96C6 7656C2= AC:D@?6CD D6CG6 E96:C D6?E6?46D] rC:E:4D @7 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? D2J E96 A@=:4J 492?86 @A6?D 2 A2E9H2J 7@C 4@CCFAE:@?]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@FVC6 |pvp[ J@F >:89E 8@ E@ 2 >:?:>F> D64FC:EJ 42>A[ @C :7 J@FVG6 8@E 2 4@FA=6 >:==:@? 3F4<D E@ DA6?5[ J@F 4@F=5 3FJ J@FC H2J :?E@ 2 92=7H2J 9@FD6 @C 6G6? 9@>6 56E6?E:@?[” D2:5 {:K ~J6C[ E96 7@C>6C A2C5@? 2EE@C?6J 7@C E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 H9@ 3C@<6 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>^A^s+\y:4A#F$`^Qm?6HDk^2m @7 E96 ?6H A@=:4J @? x?DE28C2> :? yF?6] %96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 7:C65 ~J6C :? a_ad — D96 C646?E=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968F2C5:2?]4@>^FD\?6HD^a_ae^D6A^_b^A2C5@?\2EE@C?6J\=:K\@J6C\>6=\8:3D@?Qm7:=65 2 =2HDF:Ek^2m @G6C 96C 5:D>:DD2= — 2?5 D96’D D:?46 AF3=:4=J 5@4F>6?E65 9@H E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E 92D 4@CCFAE65 E96 AC@46DD @7 8C2?E:?8 AC6D:56?E:2= A2C5@?D] “x7 J@FVC6 AC@D64FE65 7@C AC@E6DE:?8 xrt[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ @C 7@C G2?52=:K:?8 %CF>AVD C67=64E:?8 A@@=[ J@F 4@F=5 D6CG6 J@FC D6?E6?46 2=@?8D:56 >FC56C6CD 2?5 C2A:DED]”k^Am
kAm%96 AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J >:CC@CD @E96C DE6AD E92E 4C:E:4D D2J !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 92D E2<6? E@ FD6 E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E 2D 2 A@=:E:42= 4F586= 2?5 2 C6G6?F6 D@FC46] %CF>A 92D 6>A=@J65 9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96>2CD92==AC@;64E]@C8^a_ad^_f^ag^ECF>A\A2C5@?D\G:@=2E6\DE2?52C5DQmA2C5@? A@H6CDk^2m E@ C6H2C5 5@?@CD 2?5 2==:6D] p?5 96 92D FD65 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 E@ AC@D64FE6 A6@A=6 96 4@?D:56CD 9:D 6?6>:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 7@C>6C uqx s:C64E@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6FE6CD]4@>^=682=^8@G6C?>6?E^FD\2AA62=D\4@FCE\962C\5@;\3:5\C6G:G6\42D6D\282:?DE\ECF>A\7@6D\4@>6J\;2>6D\a_ae\_h\`d^Qmy2>6D r@>6Jk^2m 2?5 }6H *@C< pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= {6E:E:2 y2>6D]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H A@=:4J C25:42==J 492?86D 564256D\@=5 CF=6D E92E E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D FD65 E@ 2DD:8? :?42C46C2E65 A6@A=6 E@ 724:=:E:6D 32D65 @? 3692G:@C[ AF3=:4 D276EJ 4@?46C?D 2?5 @E96C 724E@CD[ DF49 2D 4C:>6D[ 4@?G:4E:@?D[ 2CC6DED[ 6D42A6D[ AC:D@? 5:D4:A=:?2CJ 9:DE@CJ[ 2?5 E96:C >6?E2= 962=E9 2?5 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAm%@ 36 DFC6[ E96 ?6H A@=:4J H@?’E 27764E >@DE @7 E96 `db[___ A6@A=6 :? 7656C2= AC:D@?D] qFE :E 4@F=5 27764E E9@D6 H:E9 A@=:E:42= 4@??64E:@?D]k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 :? HC:E:?8 23@FE E96 ?6H A@=:4J 3J s6>@4C2E:4 D6?2E@CD 5FC:?8 9:D 4@?7:C>2E:@? 2D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ q=2?496 2DD6CE65 E92E AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?ED H@F=5 36 >256 @? “=68:E:>2E6 8C@F?5D[ 2?5 ?@E E@ 72G@C @C E@ C6E2=:2E6 282:?DE 2?J A6CD@? 32D65 @? A@=:E:42= 4@?D:56C2E:@?D]”k^Am
kAm%96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46[ H9:49 @G6CD66D E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D[ 7:CDE 56A2CE65 7C@> :ED EC25:E:@?2= AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J E@ 36?67:E 7@C>6C D@4:2=:E6 v9:D=2:?6 |2IH6==[ H9@ H2D 4@?G:4E65 @7 D6I EC277:4<:?8 @7 2 >:?@C 2?5 H9@ H2D 2 4=@D6 2DD@4:2E6 @7 E96 =2E6 D6I @776?56C y677C6J tADE6:?] |2IH6==[ tADE6:? 2?5 %CF>A H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A3D]@C8^?6HD9@FC^A@=:E:4D^D66\E96\2==6865\ECF>A\3:CE952J\?@E6\E@\6ADE6:?\C6=62D65\3J\9@FD6\56>@4C2EDQm7C:6?5Dk^2m :? E96 `hh_D 2?5 62C=J a___D]k^Am
kAmx? yF=J a_ad[ E96?\s6AFEJ pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= q=2?496 :?E6CG:6H65 |2IH6== :? AC:D@? 7@C ?:?6 9@FCD @G6C EH@ 52JD] |2IH6== E@=5 q=2?496 E92E D96 ?6G6C H:E?6DD65 %CF>A 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8 :?2AAC@AC:2E6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];FDE:46]8@G^DE@C286^2F5:@\7:=6D^x?E6CG:6HTa_%C2?D4C:AE^x?E6CG:6HTa_%C2?D4C:AETa_\Ta_|2IH6==Ta_a_ad]_f]acTa_W#6524E65X]A57QmEC2?D4C:AEk^2m C6=62D65 3J E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E] p H66< =2E6C[ E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D EC2?D76CC65 |2IH6== E@ 2 7656C2= AC:D@? 42>A[ E96 DJDE6>’D =@H6DE\D64FC:EJ 724:=:EJ]k^Am
kAmq~! A@=:4J AC@9:3:ED E96 A=246>6?E @7 D6I @776?56CD 2?5 D6I EC277:4<6CD :? 2 AC:D@? 42>A H:E9@FE 2 H2:G6C] “%9:D :D ?@E 2 8C2J 2C62[ ?@E 6G6? 2 BF6DE:@?[” D2:5 |2FC66? q2:C5[ 2 7@C>6C D6?:@C q~! @77:4:2= H9@ 96=A65 HC:E6 E96 56A2CE>6?E’D 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J] x? 96C 6IA6C:6?46[ q2:C5 D2:5 |2IH6== :D E96 @?=J D6I @776?56C 8C2?E65 2 H2:G6C 2?5 EC2?D76CC65 E@ 2 AC:D@? 42>A D:?46 E96 A@=:4J E@@< 67764E :? a__e]k^Am
kAm&]$] #6A] s63@C29 #@DD[ 2 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 s6>@4C2E[ E@=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96>2CD92==AC@;64E]@C8Qm%96 |2CD92== !C@;64Ek^2m E92E q~! 4C62E65 E96 ?6H A@=:4J 27E6C D96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl?739*a<|*'HQm8C:==65k^2m E96?\pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= !2> q@?5: 2E 2 w@FD6 962C:?8 :? u63CF2CJ 23@FE |2IH6==’D =6?:6?E EC62E>6?E] #@DD 56>2?565 E@ <?@H H9@ 2AAC@G65 |2IH6==’D EC2?D76C 2?5 DA64:2= AC:G:=686D] q@?5: 564=:?65 E@ D2J H9@ 2AAC@G65 E96 EC2?D76C 2?5 D2:5 D96 925 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 :E] q@?5: 25565 E92E E96 2?DH6C =2J H:E9 E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D[ H9:49 D96 @G6CD2H]k^Am
kAmp D@FC46 E@=5 %96 |2CD92== !C@;64E E92E #:4< $E@G6C[ DA64:2= 2DD:DE2?E E@ E96 5:C64E@C[ 2AAC@G65 |2IH6==’D >@G6 E@ E96 qCJ2? AC:D@? 42>A :? %6I2D] ~? $6AE] `c[ E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D AC6DD @77:46 4@?7:C>65 E92E $E@G6C H2D E96 “2AAC@G:?8 @77:4:2=” :? |2IH6==’D EC2?D76C] $E@G6C 5:5?’E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kAm#@DD D2:5 D96 E9:?<D |2IH6==’D 42D6 =65 E@ E96 AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J 492?86] “xE H2D 6DE23=:D965 E@ C6EC@24E:G6=J 2AAC@G6 >@G:?8 v9:D=2:?6 |2IH6== 7C@> 2 =@H\D64FC:EJ AC:D@?[ H9:49 2C8F23=J D96 D9@F=5?VE 92G6 366? :?[ E@ r=F3 u65[ H96C6 D96 4@F=5 92G6 8C2A67CF:E ;F:46 2?5 5@8D E@ 8:G6 96C 4@>7@CE[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$96 36=:6G6D %CF>A @77:4:2=D =2E6C C62=:K65 E96 A@=:4J 4@F=5 36 FD65 E@ AF?:D9 6?6>:6D[ #@DD D2:5]k^Am
kAm!C:@C E@ 9:D 4@?7:C>2E:@? 2D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ q=2?496 E@=5 r@?8C6DD 96 925 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 |2IH6==’D EC2?D76C] &?56C 3@E9 q=2?496 2?5 q@?5:[ E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D 2?5 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 92G6 72:=65 E@ AC@G:56 C64@C5D @7 |2IH6==’D AC:D@? EC2?D76C E@ E96 $6?2E6 2?5 w@FD6 56DA:E6 >F=E:A=6 C6BF6DED 2?5 E96 C6BF:C6>6?ED @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?8C6DD]8@G^3:==^``hE9\4@?8C6DD^9@FD6\3:==^cc_dQmtADE6:? u:=6D %C2?DA2C6?4J p4Ek^2m]k^Am
kAmx? 2 $6AE] `` =6EE6C E@ #@DD 2?5 @E96C w@FD6 >6>36CD[ 2 q~! @77:4:2= HC@E6 E92E E96 ?6H 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J 2==@H65 E96 EC2?D76C @7 D6I @776?56CD E@ >:?:>F> D64FC:EJ 42>AD]k^Am
kAm|2IH6==’D EC2?D76C :D?’E E96 @?=J @?6 E92E 3C@<6 H:E9 q~! 8F:56=:?6D] ~? r9C:DE>2D s2J a_ac[ 367@C6 9:D D64@?5 E6C> 3682?[ %CF>A k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_ad^`a^ab^?I\D`\daehf_a^562E9\C@H\6I64FE:@?D\EC2?D76C\4@>>FE65QmC2:=65 @? 9:D D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C> 23@FEk^2m !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?’D 4@>>FE2E:@?D @7 E96 D6?E6?46D @7 2== 3FE E9C66 >6? @? 562E9 C@H :? 7656C2= AC:D@?Di “%@ E96 bf >@DE G:@=6?E 4C:>:?2=D[ H9@ <:==65[ C2A65[ 2?5 A=F?56C65 =:<6 G:CEF2==J ?@ @?6 367@C6 E96>[ 3FE H6C6 ;FDE 8:G6?[ :?4C65:3=J[ 2 A2C5@? 3J $=66AJ y@6 q:56?] x C67FD6 E@ H:D9 2 |6CCJ r9C:DE>2D E@ E9@D6 =F4<J ‘D@F=D’ 3FE[ :?DE625[ H:== D2J[ v~ %~ wt{{P”k^Am
kAm%96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D 3682? 2DD:8?:?8 E96 >6? E@ >65:F> @C >2I:>F> D64FC:EJ AC:D@?D[ 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 724E@CD :? E96 =@?8\DE2?5:?8 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J] qFE @? 9:D 7:CDE 52J 324< :? @77:46[ %CF>A :DDF65 2? 6I64FE:G6 @C56C 5:C64E:?8 E96 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= E@ :>AC:D@? E96 >6? :? 4@?5:E:@?D “4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 >@?DEC@D:EJ @7 E96:C 4C:>6D]”k^Am
kAm%96 q~! E96? 2DD:8?65 2== bf >6? E@ E96 4@F?ECJ’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@CC64E:@?D`]4@>^6D42A6D^2CE:4=6D^d\E9:?8D\E@\<?@H\23@FE\E96\6D42A6\AC@@7\DFA6C>2I\AC:D@?\}HbweG"35_t}_>$5^Qm92CD96DE AC:D@?k^2m :? u=@C6?46[ r@=@C25@[ H96C6 E96J H@F=5 D6CG6 E96:C D6?E6?46D :? D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E] &?56C E96 AC:@C 8F:56=:?6D[ 6:89E AC:D@?6CD H:E9 D6G6C6 >6?E2= :==?6DD H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 8@?6 E@ E96 DFA6C>2I] }6:E96C H@F=5 2 >2? H@C<:?8 2D 2 AC:D@? A@CE6C H:E9 2 DA@E=6DD 5:D4:A=:?2CJ C64@C5 27E6C ac J62CD ?@C >6? H:E9 D6C:@FD >65:42= 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 pr{& 2?5 7656C2= AF3=:4 5676?56CD 92G6 492==6?865 >2?J @7 E96 EC2?D76CD :? 4@FCE] p qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D @77:4:2= 2DD6CE65 :? 2 4@FCE 7:=:?8 E92E 96 H6:8965 6G6CJ 42D6 :?5:G:5F2==J 367@C6 2DD:8?:?8 2== E@ E96 DFA6C>2I] p 7656C2= ;F586 5:D28C665[ 42==:?8 E96 6I6C4:D6 “2 4@@<:6\4FEE6C AC@46DD E92E J:6=565 E96 D2>6 AC656E6C>:?65 C6DF=E]” ~?=J `a @7 E96 >6? 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 2E E96 r@=@C25@ DFA6C>2I]k^Am
kAm%96 AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J >2J 364@>6 J6E 2?@E96C 6I2>A=6 @7 H92E 4C:E:4D D2J :D %CF>A EFC?:?8 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 :?E@ 9:D A6CD@?2= 2?5 A@=:E:42= =2H 7:C>] w6 2AA@:?E65 q=2?496[ 9:D 7@C>6C 4C:>:?2= 5676?D6 =2HJ6C[ 2D 56AFEJ 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= 2?5 =2E6C 6=6G2E65 9:> E@ 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=]k^Am
kAm~? E96 7:CDE 52J @7 9:D D64@?5 E6C>[ %CF>A A2C5@?65 >@C6 E92? `[d__ A6@A=6 4@?G:4E65 :? E96 y2?] e 2EE24< @? E96 &]$] r2A:E@=] }@H[ %CF>A 92D 2==6865=J EFC?65 A2C5@?D :?E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96>2CD92==AC@;64E]@C8^a_ad^_f^ag^ECF>A\A2C5@?D\G:@=2E6\DE2?52C5DQmA2J\7@C\A=2J 64@?@>Jk^2m]k^Am
kAm~?6 AC@>:?6?E A2C5@? C64:A:6?E H2D %C6G@C |:=E@?[ E96 7@F?56C @7 6=64EC:4 ECF4< DE2CEFA }:<@=2[ H9@ H2D 4@?G:4E65 @? 7C2F5 492C86D :? a_aa] w6 2?5 9:D H:76 5@?2E65 S`]g >:==:@? E@ %CF>A’D a_ac 6=64E:@?] s2JD 367@C6 |:=E@? H2D E@ C6A@CE E@ AC:D@? E@ D6CG6 2 7@FC\J62C D6?E6?46[ %CF>A A2C5@?65 9:>] %9:D H:A65 @FE E96 Sefd >:==:@? :? C6DE:EFE:@? E92E AC@D64FE@CD D2:5 |:=E@? @H65 9:D G:4E:>D] |:=E@? 92D >2:?E2:?65 9:D :??@46?46 2?5 92D D2:5 9:D 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ %CF>A 925 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 9:D A2C5@?]k^Am
kAmyFDE 2D E96 ?6H AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J 92D 3C@<6? H:E9 =@?8\DE2?5:?8 q~! CF=6D[ C646?E A2C5@?D 92G6 G:@=2E65 564256D\@=5 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E 8F:56=:?6D H9:=6 56AC:G:?8 4C:>6 G:4E:>D 2?5 E2IA2J6CD @7 >@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2HJ6C@J6C]4@>^A^A2C5@?\EC24<6CDQmS`]d 3:==:@?k^2m :? C6DE:EFE:@? 2?5 7:?6D]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H 2DD:8?>6?E A@=:4J :D =:<6=J E@ >2<6 AC:D@?D >@C6 52?86C@FD 2?5 5:77:4F=E E@ >2?286[ D2:5 y2?6E !6C5F6[ 2 7@C>6C D6?:@C q~! @77:4:2=] v:G:?8 DA64:2= EC62E>6?E E@ 46CE2:? H6==\4@??64E65 A6@A=6 @C AF?:D9:?8 6?6>:6D 42? 56>@C2=:K6 DE277 2?5 3F:=5 C6D6?E>6?E 2>@?8 @E96C AC:D@?6CD[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 4=2DD:7:42E:@? E@@= :D E96 D276DE H2J E@ 9@FD6 A6@A=6[ E92EVD D276 7@C DE277[ 2?5 E92EVD D276 7@C :?>2E6D[” !6C5F6 D2:5] “x7 J@F DE2CE AF==:?8 A6@A=6 @FE @7 E96:C 6=6>6?E 2?5 AFEE:?8 E96> :? A=246D H96C6 :E =62G6D E96> GF=?6C23=6[ E92E 42? 364@>6 2 52?86C@FD D:EF2E:@?]”k^Am
kAm#@DD D2:5 D96 6IA64ED q=2?496 E@ FD6 E96 AC:D@? 2DD:8?>6?E A@H6C 4@CCFAE=J] “w6 H@F=5 ?6G6C 36 :? E9:D A@D:E:@? 3FE 7@C s@?2=5 %CF>A[” D96 D2:5] “w6VD 8@:?8 E@ FD6 H92E6G6C A@H6C 96 92D 7@C s@?2=5 %CF>A]”k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96>2CD92==AC@;64E]@C8^a_ae^_h^`g^3=2?496\492?86D\7656C2=\AC:D@?\A=246>6?EDQmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96>2CD92==AC@;64E]@C8Qmk6>m%96 |2CD92== !C@;64Ek^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am