Bill Barr blasted the leniency of sanctuary cities the same day DOJ asked for a shorter sentence for Roger Stone
Attorney General William Barr thinks some places are too lenient when it comes to criminal offenses, but his department has the opposite concern when it comes to President Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone.
Barr on Tuesday gave a speech at the Major County Sheriffs of America Winter Conference in Washington, D.C., where he criticized so-called sanctuary cities — which limit cooperation with federal agencies when it comes to immigration laws — for resisting the federal government's efforts to "carry out effective law enforcement." He said those jurisdictions "believe it is more important to to help criminal aliens evade the law than it is to protect the safety of law-abiding individuals."
Opponents of the Trump administration probably would've been critical of those comments anyway, but they were also quick to jump on the Justice Department's decision to reverse the original recommendation for Stone's sentencing because the initial seven to nine years was deemed "excessive." Barr hasn't addressed the Stone situation yet, but he's been called out for hypocrisy anyway.
Old enough to remember Bill Barr giving a speech slamming local prosecutors for not throwing the book at defendants. And that’s because he gave that speech THIS MORNING.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) February 11, 2020
Just a few months ago, Barr lashed out at leniency of “progressive prosecutors. “Anti-law enforcement social justice reformers” who’ll send cities “back to the days of revolving door justice“ w/ “more crime, more victims.” But today, he’ll be progressive for Roger Stone. pic.twitter.com/viC3vaKN5R
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) February 11, 2020
Some of Stone's prosecutors likely agree, considering 3 of them withdrew from the case after the reversal.