Time Change

Sammy Davis Jr’s rendition of the theme song from the seventies show Baretta was so stellar that it created an adage that has lasted for half a century. But has the phrase Don’t do the crime if you can do the time finally run out of steam? These days, if you commit the right kind of crime or are connected to the right people, it may not lead to much time at all. From ProPublica: Trump’s Justice Department Dropped 23,000 Criminal Investigations in Shift to Immigration. “The change in priorities was outlined in a series of memos sent to attorneys early last year. Trump’s DOJ has said it is ‘turning a new page on white-collar and corporate enforcement’ and emphasizing the pursuit of drug cartels, illegal immigrants and institutions that promote ‘divisive DEI policies.'” Of course, this trend doesn’t do much to help those who were sentenced for their crimes before the big shift. For them, we have the now wildly popular pardon program. And you’ll never guess what happens when you pardon a large group of criminals without any legitimate reasons. (Hint: They don’t keep their eye on the sparrow.) NYT Editorial Board (Gift Article): The People Trump Pardoned Are on a Crime Spree. Trump “has created a veritable pardon industry, in which people with White House connections accept payments from wealthy convicts … Worst of all, Mr. Trump granted clemency on the first day of his second term to everyone who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 … The results have been disastrous. At least 12 of the pardoned rioters have since been charged with other serious crimes, including child molestation, assault, harassment, murder plots and charges related to a vicious dog attack. The outcome was predictable.”