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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 18 december 2018

CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL of Utah, a former federal
Continued from Front prosecutor, is among the
To win over wary senators, bill's champions. He said he
sponsors tweaked the bill has been haunted by the
to prevent those convicted words of a federal judge
of violent firearm offenses, who sentenced a low-level
sexual exploitation of chil- drug offender carrying a
dren and high-level fen- gun to 55 years in prison,
tanyl and heroin dealing noting that murderers, rap-
from participating in the su- ists and terrorists could get
pervised release program less time for their offense.
— but Senator Tom Cotton, He said only Congress
R-Ark., and others want to could fix the problem.
expand that list. "Those comments have
Their amendment would stayed with me ever since,"
add carjacking, bank rob- Lee said.
bery by force, felony sex The bill follows the lead of
crimes and other "felony states such as Texas that
crimes of violence" to the have experienced a de-
list of offenses that make a crease in crime in recent
prisoner ineligible. years while keeping fewer
"Some of those crimes people in prison. Sen. John
should not be eligible for Cornyn, R-Texas, said his In this Nov. 27, 2018. file photo, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a
that program," said Sen. home state has been able meeting with fellow Republicans, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mike Rounds, R-S.D. "At this to close eight prisons since Associated Press
point, I'm probably a no un- undertaking various prison
less they get that done." reforms, such as investing of liberal and conservative nearly half of released fed- cused on boosting prisoner
Cotton has been among in probation staffing and advocacy groups have ral- eral prisoners are arrested rehabilitation programs,
the most vocal opponents getting prisoners into drug lied in support of the bill. again. "And every case of but did not include chang-
of the legislation, saying: treatment more quickly. David Safavian, general recidivism is another victim, es to sentencing laws that
"If other senators want to "This is not about being counsel for the American is another crime, is another critics say had led to overly
vote for a bill that's going to tough on crime, or soft on Conservative Union, said prosecution, is another trial, harsh sentences for many
let sex offenders and child crime," Cornyn said. "This the bill's critics ignore that is another prison cell, all nonviolent offenders, par-
pornographers and wife- is about being smart on offenders would be sub- funded with taxpayer dol- ticularly African-Americans.
beaters out of prison, that's crime and getting the best ject to strict oversight while lars," Safavian said. "I'm sor- The bill looked to have
their prerogative. That's be- results." completing their sentence ry, but there is nothing con- stalled a couple weeks
tween them and the voters Supporters of the bill warn at halfway houses or in servative about protecting ago, but supporters led by
in their state." that amendments from home custody. The pris- a non-functioning prison President Donald Trump
The bill has created a Cotton and Sen. John Ken- oners also have to show bureaucracy." and son-in-law Jared Kush-
unique split in the GOP nedy, R-La., could cause through objective criteria If the legislation passes the ner persuaded Senate Ma-
camp, while Democrats the compromise to unravel that they are a low risk to Senate, the House is ex- jority Leader Mitch McCon-
are overwhelmingly sup- if the Senate approves any society before obtaining pected to approve it quick- nell, R-Ky., to allow for the
portive. of them as early as Tues- supervised release. ly. The House had earlier Senate vote before Con-
Republican Sen. Mike Lee day. A unique cross-section Under the current process, passed legislation that fo- gress adjourns.q

Comey says House Republicans are 'shameful' after interview

By MARY CLARE JALONICK base." Democrats have called the former British spy Christo- day, he called his former
and PADMANANDA RAMA He was on Capitol Hill for a GOP investigation "non- pher Steele. personal lawyer, Michael
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- second closed-door inter- sense." "This while the president of Cohen, a "rat" because he
mer FBI Director James view with two Republican- Comey, who led both in- the United States is lying has cooperated with pros-
Comey had harsh words led committees investigat- vestigations, mocked the about the FBI, attacking the ecutors.
for House Republicans on ing what they say was bias congressional probe, say- FBI and attacking the rule Comey said Trump "is call-
Monday, saying their si- at the Justice Department ing the questions were of law in this country. How ing a witness who is coop-
lence in response to Presi- before the 2016 presiden- about "Hillary Clinton's does that make any sense erating with his own Justice
dent Donald Trump's at- tial election. Republicans emails and the Steele dos- at all?" Comey asked. Department a rat — say
tacks on the Justice De- argue department officials sier" — two favorite subjects Trump has repeatedly that again to yourself at
partment is "shameful." conspired against Trump of Republicans who insist gone after the FBI for bias home, and remind yourself
Comey said Republicans as they started an investi- there was bias in the de- as his campaign has been where we have ended up."
"have to have the cour- gation into his ties to Rus- partment. The dossier was under investigation. He has A transcript released af-
age to stand up and speak sia and cleared Democrat Democratic-funded oppo- called special counsel Rob- ter Comey's first interview
the truth, not be cowed by Hillary Clinton in a separate sition research on Trump's ert Mueller's Russia inves- showed a heavy focus on
mean tweets or fear of their probe of her email use. ties to Russia compiled by tigation a "hoax." On Sun- the Clinton email probe.q