The phrase “Equal Justice Under The Law” is engraved in the facade above the entrance to the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.
As any student of the law will tell you, this phrase is not so much a promise but an aspirational goal … at best … or just plain hogwash meant to hoodwink the average Joe. The truth is there are, and have always been, two systems of justice in this country … one for the haves, and one for the have-nots. There is “justice” for the well-to-do and “justice” for everyone else.
Yesterday, once again, the ugly truth was put on full display. Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manger and career criminal, was handed such a light sentence by Judge T.S. Ellis that nearly everyone following the Manafort saga was shocked.
While sentencing guidelines called for Manafort to be given a prison term anywhere from 19 to 24 years, Judge Ellis ordered Manafort to serve only 47 months in the can. The judge, who seemed to show a bias against the prosecution from the get go, even had the audacity to comment Manafort has lived “an otherwise blameless life!”
No. Justice in American is not blind. That statue of a blindfolded Lady Justice we are all so used to seeing is a fraud. What we’re not told is that the blindfold is actually see-through.
Although Manafort escaped with a small penalty in the first case he was sentenced, another sentencing day awaits him next week in front of a less forgiving judge who could add another 10 years to his jail time.
Let’s hope for some better “justice” handed down by Judge Amy Berman Jackson.
Have no doubt … the leniency granted to Manafort only highlights the inequities in our criminal justice system, which has led to excessively harsh — and often biased — sentencing that favors wealthier, white defendants.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in her tweet, has only stated what we already knew. The United States has the best ”justice” money can buy.
Photo | wired.com
