“Tough on Crime” Republican Attorney General Candidate Is Soft on Sex Offenders
“Tough on Crime” Republican Attorney General Candidate Is Soft on Sex Offenders The New Republic
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The Republican Candidate for Kentucky Attorney General Promises to Be Tough on Crime
The Republican candidate for Kentucky attorney general, Russell Coleman, is campaigning on a promise to be tough on crime, particularly crimes against children. But before running for attorney general, he served as U.S. attorney for the western district of Kentucky—and a closer look at his track record there shows a frightening laxity regarding sex offenders.
Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Coleman’s campaign comes at a time when state attorneys general exert increasing influence over how laws are implemented and prosecuted. If he wins in 2024, he would be in charge of enforcing both state and federal laws in Kentucky.
When Coleman unveiled his campaign for attorney general in May, he highlighted a commitment to be tough on crime, a popular Republican talking point. “My priority is the same as President Trump’s: Make America Safe Again by stopping the people who are poisoning our communities with deadly drugs and using technology to target our kids, parents and grandparents,” he said in his announcement. “As Attorney General, I will never stop working to protect our families, uphold our conservative values, and protect our Constitutional freedoms.”
Track Record on Sex Offenders
He has repeatedly stressed his commitment to “protect Kentucky families” and support police efforts to put criminals in jail, citing his past experience as U.S. attorney. Donald Trump appointed Coleman as U.S. attorney in 2017, and Coleman served in that office until January 2021. During his tenure, Coleman acted as the area’s chief law enforcement officer. Part of his job included ensuring that laws were “faithfully executed,” as well as setting sentencing recommendations in plea agreements.
But while serving as U.S. attorney, Coleman offered at least 48 plea agreements to people accused of exploitation of or sexual offenses against children. Nearly half of those agreements included dismissing certain charges or recommended sentences far weaker than those the judge ultimately issued, the latter of which rarely happens.
Case Examples
One of the most egregious examples is the case of United States v. Leasor. In 2018, Brian Leasor was found in possession of a tablet that had a search history that included multiple terms related to child pornography and sexual exploitation. Investigators didn’t find any saved images on the tablet, but the websites that Leasor had visited displayed images of completely naked children as young as 3 or 4.
At the time, Leasor was already serving a 10-year supervised release sentence after he pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography in 2005. He had served 70 months in jail.
Leasor was charged in July 2019 with attempted receipt of child pornography and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Coleman offered him a deal: In exchange for Leasor pleading guilty, the charge of attempted receipt of child pornography would be dropped. Leasor would go to prison for 10 years and then be free to go. A judge sentenced Leasor in January 2021 to 10 years followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Coleman’s plea agreement had made no mention of supervision after jail.
Another plea deal that Coleman oversaw was in the case of United States v. Taylor. In January 2018, an officer visited Lawrence William Taylor, who had been convicted in 2004 of online enticement of a minor. He was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release. The officer discovered Taylor was living with a woman and her 11-year-old
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
The issues highlighted in the article are related to crime, particularly crimes against children, and the role of attorneys general in enforcing laws and prosecuting offenders. These issues are connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Additionally, the article mentions cases involving child pornography and sexual exploitation, which are also relevant to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
The article highlights cases involving crimes against children, including child pornography and sexual exploitation. These cases are directly related to Target 16.2, which aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children. Additionally, the mention of crimes against women and girls in the context of child exploitation is relevant to Target 5.2, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of plea agreements offered in cases involving crimes against children
- Percentage of plea agreements that include dismissing certain charges or recommending weaker sentences
- Number of plea agreements rejected by judges as too weak
The article mentions specific cases and plea agreements offered by Russell Coleman, the Republican candidate for Kentucky attorney general, in cases involving crimes against children. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by assessing the effectiveness and severity of the legal response to such crimes. The number of plea agreements offered, the percentage of agreements with weaker sentences, and the number of agreements rejected by judges provide insights into the enforcement of laws and the protection of children from abuse and exploitation.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. | Number of plea agreements offered in cases involving crimes against children |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Percentage of plea agreements that include dismissing certain charges or recommending weaker sentences |
| Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Number of plea agreements rejected by judges as too weak | |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | N/A |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: newrepublic.com
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