Trump’s criminal justice reform bill becomes persona non grata among GOPers – By Meredith McGraw (Politico) / May 1, 2022
With rising crime and the approaching midterms, Republicans have moved far past the First Step Act.
When Donald Trump signed a long-sought criminal justice reform measure into law in 2018, he had visions of using the legislation to make major inroads with Black and moderate swing voters.
The First Step Act was not just hailed as a rare bipartisan achievement for the 45th president but as the beginning of a major shift in GOP politics, one that would move the party past the 1980s tough-on-crime mindset to a focus on rehabilitation, racial fairness and second chances.
Three-and-a-half years later, few Republicans — Trump included — seem not at all interested in talking about it.
With spikes in crime registering as a top concern for voters, Republicans have increasingly reverted back to that 1980s mindset. Talk of additional legislation has taken a back seat to calls for enhanced policing and accusations that Democratic-led cities are veering toward lawlessness.
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