Breonna Taylor case: Ex-police officer Brett Hankison handed 33 months prison sentence; Judge rejects DOJ's call for leniency
A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department appeal for clemency on Monday and handed down a 33-month prison term to a former officer for breaching the civil rights of a Breonna Taylor, a Black woman, whose 2020 death sparked extensive demonstrations.
The Kentucky jury found Brett Hankison, a previous Louisville police detective, guilty in November of violating Taylor's civil rights during a failed police operation at her residence.
Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department's civil rights division, made an extraordinary request to Judge Rebecca Jennings last week, suggesting a sentence as time served, which is one day Hankison spent in custody upon arrest.
However, Jennings, a Trump-era judicial appointee, dismissed this suggestion, expressing concern over the prosecution's sentencing document and lenient recommendations, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
The sentence included 33 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, despite the possibility of a life sentence.
The deaths of 26-year-old Taylor followed by George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man killed by a white Minneapolis officer in May 2020, catalysed substantial protests across the United States and internationally against police misconduct and racial discrimination.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Thiruvananthapuram ചുമരിൽ നൂറുകണക്കിന് റോസാപ്പൂക്കൾ.
Rare Climbing Rose Seeds
Learn More
Undo
On March 13, 2020, around midnight, Taylor and her partner Kenneth Walker were asleep in her Louisville flat when they detected noise at the entrance. Walker discharged his firearm, wounding an officer, believing an intrusion was occurring.
The police, armed with a disputed no-knock warrant for a drug arrest, responded with over 30 shots, fatally wounding Taylor.
During the operation, Hankison fired 10 shots, some entering a neighbouring flat, without hitting anyone.
He remains the sole officer convicted regarding the incident.
In her sentencing document, Dhillon argued that a substantial prison term would be "unjust." "Hankison did not shoot Ms. Taylor and is not otherwise responsible for her death," she said. "Hankison did not wound her or anyone else at the scene that day, although he did discharge his duty weapon ten times blindly into Ms Taylor's home."
The Taylor family's
legal
representatives acknowledged that whilst the sentence didn't "fully reflect the severity of the harm caused," it exceeded the Justice Department's recommendation. "We respect the court's decision, but we will continue to call out the DOJ's failure to stand firmly behind Breonna's rights and the rights of every Black woman whose life is treated as expendable," they said.
In May, the Justice Department withdrew lawsuits initiated under
Joe Biden
's administration against Louisville and Minneapolis police forces, which had alleged excessive force and racial discrimination.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
James Comey blasts US government: Ex-FBI director lashes out in daughter's defence after DOJ dismissal; warns of 'hard weeks in Trump era'
James Comey (File photo) Former FBI Director James Comey has sharply criticized the Trump and his administration after the department of justice abruptly fired his daughter, Maurene Comey, a longtime federal prosecutor known for her work on high-profile cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Sean 'Diddy' Combs. 'The reservoir is in grave danger,' Comey said in a statement shared by Fox News being circulated on social media, after his daughter's dismissal. 'Right now, Trump and the hacks who lead the Department of Justice are hammering at the dam day after day, trying to turn it into just another gold leaf covered Trump subsidiary.' Calling on career DOJ employees to hold the line, he added, 'Our best hope is that good people will stay. You may get fired for acting that way, but there's honor in that and nothing but disgrace for those who don't stand up. There are going to be hard weeks in the Trump era and this was one for my family. But there are plenty of good people still in the department committed to doing things the right way, committed to the rule of law. For them, because of them, keep the faith.' The Justice Department fired Maurene Comey last week via a memo that gave no explanation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'Yesterday was unexpectedly my last day in the Office,' she wrote in an internal email obtained by the New York Post. 'I was summarily fired via memo from Main Justice that did not give a reason for my termination.' Her dismissal comes as the Justice Department faces scrutiny over its decision to close parts of the Epstein investigation. Comey had led several significant prosecutions, including the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges and, more recently, a high-profile case involving music mogul Diddy Combs. In the past year, Comey had become a target of far-right influencers close to Donald Trump . In May, conservative activist Laura Loomer publicly called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to fire Comey, accusing her of political bias.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump administration sues NYC over sanctuary city policies post officer shooting
The Trump administration on Thursday sued New York City over its 'sanctuary city' policies, arguing they are obstructing the government from enforcing immigration law and contributed to the recent shooting of an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer. The lawsuit says New York City's policies violate the supremacy clause of the Constitution by interfering with the enforcement of federal law.(Getty Images via AFP) The federal lawsuit is the latest in a series of suits brought by the Justice Department targeting state or city policies seen as interfering with immigration enforcement. 'New York City has released thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a news release. 'If New York City won't stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will.' The lawsuit — which also names Mayor Eric Adams, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and numerous other city officials and departments — targets policies that include barring city law enforcement from honoring civil immigration detainers by holding people in custody past their release date. Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokesperson for Adams, said the mayor 'supports the essence' of the city's policies but has urged the City Council 'to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to make our city safer' when it comes to dealing with 'violent criminals.' She added: 'So far, the Council has refused.' A representative for the City Council did not immediately return a request for comment. The suit comes after Trump officials on Monday blamed the city's sanctuary policies for the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer in a Manhattan park over the weekend. The officer was off duty and not in uniform at the time. Authorities have said the two men apprehended in connection with Saturday's robbery-gone-wrong have been arrested a number of times since they entered the country illegally from the Dominican Republic in recent years. One of the men had been released following a 2024 arrest despite an active detainer, according to the lawsuit. Police say the 42-year-old officer had been sitting with a woman in a park beneath the George Washington Bridge when two men approached on a moped. The officer, who has not been named, drew his service weapon and exchanged gunfire with one of the men. The officer was shot in the face and arm while the suspect was hit in the groin and leg. The lawsuit says New York City's policies violate the supremacy clause of the Constitution by interfering with the enforcement of federal law. Similar lawsuits have been filed in recent months against New York state; Colorado; Rochester, New York; Los Angeles; and elsewhere. 'New York City has long been at the vanguard of interfering with enforcing this country's immigration laws,' the lawsuit says. 'Its history as a sanctuary city dates back to 1989, and its efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement have only intensified since.' It says city policies limiting cooperation and information sharing with federal agents conflict with federal law. New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman said the city 'has no obligation to redirect its resources to take on federal immigration enforcement, let alone the cruel and lawless deportation campaign the Trump regime is waging.' 'New York City's decades-old, bipartisan sanctuary laws have made our city safer, supported our economy, strengthened our communities, and made it easier for our people to access vital services," Lieberman said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
JD Vance slams WSJ ‘hit piece': US VP demands proof behind Trump-Epstein birthday book claim; defends President's lawsuit
JD Vance (File photo) US Vice President JD Vance has come out swinging against The Wall Street Journal over its recent report linking President Donald Trump to a sexually suggestive message allegedly written for Jeffrey Epstein 's 50th birthday tribute book. In a fiery post on X, Vance accused the WSJ of publishing what he called a 'hit piece' against Trump without providing credible proof. 'I have no idea if the book exists—WSJ won't show it to us. I have no idea if the letter exists—WSJ won't show it to us,' he wrote. 'It's disgraceful, and it's why the president sued," he added. Vance also pushed back on the broader narrative, calling it 'absurd that a major American paper would attack the President of the United States without revealing the basis", referring to allegations that Trump write poems to Epstein, and warning that the media will 'dribble little details out for days or weeks in an effort to assassinate the president's character.' Further, accusing them of pushing Democrats' narrative he further said, "Everyone will just move on from the fact that the WSJ is acting like a Democrat SuperPAC." His remarks follow a Wall Street Journal report published last week claiming that Trump signed a crude drawing in a birthday book compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell , Epstein's longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking minors. The Journal alleged that Trump's contribution included the outline of a naked woman with his signature below her waist, reportedly captioned with the phrase, 'May every day be another wonderful secret.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo Trump swiftly denied the allegation, posting on Truth Social that the letter was a 'FAKE.' The White House also issued a statement dismissing the claims as politically motivated. 'This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media,' said spokesperson Steven Cheung. The report also resurfaced Trump's prior connections to Epstein, including a 1997 inscription in a copy of The Art of the Comeback that read, 'To Jeff- You are the greatest!' A previously unreleased photo of Trump, Epstein, and singer James Brown was also reviewed by The New York Times, further fueling scrutiny of their past ties. The controversy has intensified calls from lawmakers and the public to release sealed Epstein-related documents. A key House committee voted this week to subpoena files from the Justice Department, and Rep. Ro Khanna has indicated he plans to subpoena Epstein's estate for the original birthday book. Epstein's estate said Thursday it would comply with all lawful processes. Meanwhile, Maxwell's role remains central- she reportedly wrote the book's introductory letter and met with a Justice Department official this week. While the WSJ and NYT say they have reviewed parts of the book and Maxwell's letter, they have yet to publish full images of the materials in question, prompting continued criticism from Trump's allies. Trump's lawsuit Trump filed a libel and slander lawsuit against Dow Jones, News Corp along with two Wall Street Journal reporters, and the paper's owner Rupert Murdoch. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that he filed a 'powerhouse lawsuit.' "We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is, The Wall Street Journal," the MAGA supremo said. "This historic legal action is being brought against the so-called authors of this defamation, the now fully disgraced WSJ, as well as its corporate owners and affiliates, with Rupert Murdoch and Robert Thomson (whatever his role is!) at the top of the list," Trump added. The lawsuit was filed in the federal court for the Southern District of Florida, based in Miami. A full copy of the complaint had not yet been made public.
