OLawyers for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said on Thursday that he is being held in solitary confinement because “the facility cannot otherwise guarantee his safety,” leading some conservatives online complain about the United States criminal justice system–a major talking point among Democrats.
Manafort is being held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, his lawyer wrote in an appeal brief, according to Courthouse News. The imprisonment, according to his lawyer, is also hurting him from preparing a defense to charges handed to him as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and other related matters.
The news of President Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman’s circumstances in prison led many conservatives to express outrage online.
Several people used the #FreePaulManafort hashtag.
#FreePaulManafort this is inhumane, Trump must pardon him!!! https://t.co/xxZ4BnSXfU
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/ShellyPayne4328/status/1015271912036077568
Others just seemed aghast at the lack of “justice” being given to Manafort.
How is this justice⁉️
— CyberChick (@warriors_mom) July 6, 2018
Paul Manafort spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement! #DeepState #MuellerWitchHunt @warriors_mom #MAGA https://t.co/oXQ8mbkWdm
The fact that Paul Manafort sits in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day while Hillary Clinton laughs scott free just shows how much of a sham our government is.
— fedora the explorer (@carellijawn) July 6, 2018
Of course, others online pointed out that solitary confinement is cruel, and used often in the country’s prison system.
One tweet in particular from a reporter at the Washington Examiner seemed to invoke a number of responses.
Congrats to Byron York and others who are discovering our harsh criminal justice system now that a rich, white fellow-partisan is enduring it. https://t.co/8OMo28s9h6
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) July 6, 2018
what if Paul Manafort’s only positive contribution to society is awakening the right’s consciousness to the horrors of the carceral state https://t.co/XYGZ0GEKFi
— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) July 6, 2018
Awesome, now do one for all the brown people and poor people in the same confinements….. https://t.co/bQr6TKVlBc
— KarleeAg99 (@karleeAg99) July 6, 2018
Breaking: The World’s Largest Prison System Briefly Affects Rich White Dude (Who Can Meet With His Attorneys Whenever They Want) From The Party That Campaigned For Decades On Making The Prison System Work Like This https://t.co/nBy5yyRqC2
— Johnny McNulty (parody of former self) (@JohnnyMcNulty) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/1015278702182240257
Solitary confinement is awful and should never be used. Even for Paul Manafort.
— Euan Rellie (@euanrellie) July 6, 2018
From “Lock her up!” To “Please get Paul Manafort out of solitary” real fast
— Marcus H. Johnson (@marcushjohnson) July 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/1015265495715545090
Manafort’s bail was revoked in late April, and he is appealing that decision. Mueller’s team charged him with money laundering and other crimes late last year.
READ MORE:
- A running list of the Trump associates charged in Mueller’s Russia probe
- New report details list of Trump officials Robert Mueller is going after
- Schumer still hopes Trump will pick Merrick Garland for Supreme Court
