Sessions Pushes Death Penalty for ‘Certain Drug-Related Crimes’
In a memo to U.S. Attorneys, said death penalty should be pursued in “appropriate cases.”
REUTERS/John Sommers II / Reuters
Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a memo to U.S. Attorneys on Wednesday, saying he “strongly” encourages the use of the death penalty for “certain drug-related crimes.” Sessions wrote that actions to hold drug manufacturers and distributors accountable “should also include the pursuit of capital punishment in appropriate cases.” He also called for prosecutors to consider “every lawful tool at their disposal” to combat the opioid epidemic. This comes after President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to “get tough on the drug dealers” in a recent New Hampshire speech. “That toughness includes the death penalty,” he said.
JUST IN: Jeff Sessions has told federal prosecutors that "I strongly encourage…when appropriate” applying charges that bring the death penalty in certain drug cases — including “dealing in extremely large quantities of drugs.”
— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) March 21, 2018
Memo to US Attorneys: pic.twitter.com/9o9uehfW6v
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