Youngkin, Miyares Go Silent on Trump Pardoning Convicted Criminals Who Assault Police; Mystery Severances in Richmond; More Jay Jones Endorsements
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“Assault on a Police Officer” Youngkin, Miyares Stone Silent on Trump Pardoning Criminals Charged with Assaulting Cops
On Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke on police and “backing the blue” at Capital One Arena in the District of Columbia at Trump’s Inauguration Day event attended by thousands.
Shortly after Youngkin left the stage, President Trump fully pardoned 1,500 convicted criminals including hundreds of individuals who were charged and convicted of “assault on a law enforcement officer,” during the violent January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
The group included racist “proud boy” leader Enrique Tarrio and far-right anti-government militia leader Stuart Rhodes.
With that, Youngkin and his Attorney General, Jason Miyares, had few words to say in support of law enforcement and against those who violently beat up cops in an attempt to disrupt the certification of an election Trump lost by over 7 million votes. The moment crystallizes how politics plays a role in messaging and how race is an omni-present factor in what is left unsaid. Does anyone believe for one moment that if those incarcerated weren’t white Trump supporters that Youngkin and Miyares would remain silent on the issue of assaulting police officers?
The headlines below over the past few years tell the story:
The timing of their silence. Only a few days before on Jan. 17, Youngkin and Miyares had plenty to say on violence towards police and pardons. Why? Because President Biden granted clemency to two Black men from Virginia, Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, who accepted a plea deal for a life sentence to avoid the death penalty. The plea deal was accepted because it was likely both would have been sentenced to death in the murder of Waverly Police Officer Allen Gibson in 1998. In that case, Gov. Youngkin had plenty to say.
RELATED: White Fear: How the Browning of America Is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds Hardcover (2022) by Roland Martin
“I am beyond outraged and in utter disbelief that President Biden would announce clemency for Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson—two men who admitted for being responsible to brutally killing Officer Allen Gibson, a hero and dedicated servant to our community,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin in a statement on Jan. 18, 2025.
What was left out of the story were the case details. The two men were later found not guilty by a jury on the same charge. Though former Attorney General Mark Herring supported clemency in the case, current Attorney General Miyares stopped that from happening.
“Less than 24 hours after the officer was shot, there was a photo lineup conducted, and a witness identified another suspect. The suspect that the witness identified matched the description that Officer Gibson gave in his dying declaration,” defense attorney Jarrett Adams told WWBT Richmond in an interview in 2022.
Despite their deep interest in the Waverly case there’s no comment on a Virginia resident who was beaten up by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. Michael Fanone, who is a former member of the DC Metropolitan Police force is reportedly applying for restraining orders against the five people who assaulted him in 2021.
Below: Trump supporters attack the U.S. Capitol
January 6 Investigation Chair Bennie Thompson and former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had other ideas on Trump’s pardons of convicted criminals who assaulted police.
Latest 🎙️ Podcast: Speaker Don Scott is pardoned by President Joseph Biden
Latest 🎙️ Podcast: Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan on the fight ahead as Trump returns
RTD: Details of 32 Severance Packages Worth Close to $1M Hidden by Richmond Under Stoney
Richmond Times Dispatch: Under former Mayor Levar Stoney, the city issued 32 severance packages to departing employees between 2017 and 2024, collectively worth nearly $1 million.
But in response to a public records request, officials said they would not disclose documents related to those severance agreements, citing an exemption to Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act intended to protect “personnel information.” READ ENTIRE
Jan. 30: Adrift Democrats to Have Final DNC Leadership Forum
Major political party with no strategy and out of power on the federal level to have last leadership forum on Jan. 30.
DNC: On Thursday, January 30, the final DNC officer forum will take place in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service (GU Politics) and be co-hosted by “MSNBC Live” and GU Politics. The deadline to qualify for the final forum and the February 1 ballot is Saturday, January 25 at 8 p.m. ET. The list of qualifying candidates for both the final forum and for the February 1 ballot will be announced later this week. The forum will begin at 3 p.m. ET and will be live-streamed on MSNBC’s YouTube channel.
Attorney General 2025: Jay Jones Announces More Major Endorsements
Last week former Delegate Jay Jones announced he raised $945,380 in 2024 and has more than $785,000 cash-on-hand. According to his campaign both totals “are the highest at this point in the cycle of any non-incumbent Democratic candidate for Attorney General in Virginia history.”
Yesterday, Jones announced more endorsements. They are:
Delegate Katrina Callsen (Charlottesville)
Susan Cunningham, County Board (Arlington)
Takis Karantonis, Chair, County Board (Arlington)
Matt de Ferranti, Vice Chair, County Board (Arlington)
Julius D. "JD" Spain, Sr., County Board (Arlington)
Sandy Anderson, School Board (Fairfax)
Letty Hardi, Mayor (Falls Church)
Rachna Sizemore Heizer, School Board (Fairfax)
Kyle McDaniel, School Board (Fairfax)
Melanie Meren, School Board (Fairfax)
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, School Board (Arlington)
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