Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, continuing the progressive agenda to end cell solitary confinement in prisons, chose an unlikely symbol for the cause on Wednesday: former President Trump's campaign president, Paul Manafort .
Manafort, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence in Pennsylvania for various financial crimes, is expected to be transferred to the famous New York Prison Complex on Rikers Island pending the trial of the charge related to his past financial operations. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that it would likely be separated from the general prison population and placed in solitary confinement.
In response to news on Twitter Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes the East River Island, where the prison complex is located, called "solitary confinement", "torture" and said that Manafort "should be released, as well as all persons detained alone."
"A prison sentence is not an authorization for torture and human rights violations by the government" Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "That's what solitary confinement is."
She explained her position in a follow-up tweet.
Yes – released from lonely.
NYT used the term "solitary confinement" and that's what I'm commenting.
"Preventive custody" is a separate practice, but does not necessarily exclude loneliness. It's actually not held alone, so much the better. Free all others.
Progressive activists and organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union have called for the end of solitary confinement, which many prisons use as a form of punishment for inmates who break the rules. This usually means that the prisoner is locked in his cell for 23 hours a day.
However, according to the Times, well-known detainees like Manafort are generally held in custody and isolated from the general population on Rikers, which holds about 7,500 inmates awaiting trial or serving a short-term sentence. The city plans to eliminate the complex over the next decade.
In the case of Manafort, being kept in isolation is not a punishment. It would be for his protection. An unnamed law enforcement official told the Times that the 70-year-old would likely be housed in a former island prison hospital:
A law enforcement official knowing the practices of the prison said that he would probably be detained in one of the island's oldest buildings, known as the command. North infirmary, which was built in the early 1930s, or in one of the newest buildings of the complex, set of structures similar to fiberglass tents known as " Sprungs ".
The cell blocks in the command of the infirmary have eight cells and a living room with a television on each floor, said the manager. Inmates are not locked in their cells during the day.
"It is there that are held the most prominent detainees, including police officers, those accused of killing police officers, politicians and celebrities," the newspaper noted.
Last year, Manafort was found guilty of fraud, tax and conspiracy in a federal bank in two cases related to the investigation led by Special Adviser Robert Mueller in Russia. The conviction led to speculation that Trump could forgive Manafort, who would have lied to the investigators.
In March, the Manhattan attorney filed a new lawsuit against Manafort, accusing him of 16 crimes, including residential mortgage fraud. If he was convicted of charges against the state, Manafort would still be liable to imprisonment even if Trump forgave him his federal crimes.
Manafort should be transferred to Rikers in the coming weeks. He will stay there pending his trial in New York.
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Paul Manafort indicted in investigation in Russia
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Former US President Donald Trump's campaign director, Paul Manafort, arrives for a hearing in federal district court in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2017. REUTERS / Aaron P. Bernstein
Kevin Downing (C), a lawyer for former President Donald Trump's campaign director, Paul Manafort, is appearing for a hearing before the Federal District Court in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2017. REUTERS / Yuri Gripas
Paul Manafort, former campaign director for US President Donald Trump, leaves after a bail hearing before the US District Court in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2017. REUTERS / Joshua Roberts
Paul Manafort, former campaign director for US President Donald Trump, leaves after a bail hearing before the US District Court in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2017. REUTERS / Joshua Roberts
Former US President Donald Trump's campaign director, Paul Manafort, leaves the US District Court after a hearing over the first charges resulting from an investigation by a special advocate over a possible Russian meddling in the United States. 2016 Presidential Election in Washington (United States), October 30, 2017. REUTERS / Jim Bourg
Former Trump 2016 campaign president Paul Manafort (left) leaves the US Federal Court after being indicted on 12 charges under the US-based law. Investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in Washington, DC, on October 30, 2017. REUTERS / James Lawler Duggan
Former Trump 2016 campaign president Paul Manafort (left) leaves the US Federal Court after being indicted on 12 charges under the US-based law. Investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in Washington, DC, on October 30, 2017. REUTERS / James Lawler Duggan
Former Trump campaign director Paul Manafort, who has focused in particular the investigation of special adviser Robert Mueller on an alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, is hiding behind his visor of car while he leaves his home in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, on October 30, 2017. REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Former US President Donald Trump's campaign director, Paul Manafort, leaves the US District Court after a hearing over the first charges resulting from an investigation by a special advocate over a possible Russian meddling in the United States. 2016 Presidential Election in Washington (United States), October 30, 2017. REUTERS / Jim Bourg
Former US President Donald Trump's campaign director, Paul Manafort, arrives for a hearing in federal district court in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2017. REUTERS / Aaron P. Bernstein
Former US Campaign Director Donald Trump, Paul Manafort, uses a sun visor to block the view of photographers as he leaves the US District Court after a hearing in the first charges arising from a special investigator's investigation into possible Russian interference in the presidential election in Washington, DC on October 30, 2017. REUTERS / Jim Bourg
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 2:
Ex Trump campaign leader Paul Manafort, at the center, leaves the US District Court with his lawyer, Kevin Downing, left, November 2, 2017 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Bill O & # 39; Leary / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, leaves the US courthouse after a bail hearing in Washington, DC, on Monday, November 6, 2017. Manafort, 68, an international political consultant, has been charged with his The Arm right, Rick Gates, lied to US authorities about their work in Ukraine, laundering millions of dollars and hiding accounts abroad. On October 30, the two men pleaded not guilty. Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Washington, DC – November 2: Paul Manafort, former director of the Donald Trump campaign, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse in the United States on Thursday, November 02, 2017 in Washington, DC. Manafort faces several charges. (Photo by Matt McClain / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 6: Former Trump campaign director, Paul Manafort and his wife Kathleen, arrive at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse for a bail hearing on November 6, 2017 in Washington, DC . Manafort and his former partner, Richard Gates, both pleaded not guilty on Monday following an indictment on 12 counts, which included money laundering and money laundering. the conspiracy. (Photo by Mark Wilson / Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 6: Kevin Downing, a lawyer for former Trump campaign president Paul Manafort, arrives at the US District Courthouse on November 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. Manafort and his partner, Rick Gates, are expected to appear again in court for a bail hearing this morning, after pleading not guilty on October 30, under charge in 12 counts, ranging from from money laundering to unregistered acts of the former Ukrainian prosecutor. Russian Government. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, right, arrives at the US Court House for a bond hearing in Washington, DC, United States, on Monday, November 6, 2017. Manafort, 68, International political consultant, has been accused Rick Gates, his right hand, lied to US authorities about their work in Ukraine, laundered millions of dollars and concealed accounts abroad. On October 30, the two men pleaded not guilty. Photographer: Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
United States – November 6: Former Trump campaign president Paul Manafort leaves US law firm E. Barrett Prettyman after a court hearing on bail conditions and his detention on bail home on Monday, November 6, 2017. (Photo by Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call)
Washington, DC – November 2: Richard Gates arrives at the Federal Court Building Prettyman for a hearing on November 2, 2017 in Washington, DC. Gates and his former partner and former president of the Trump campaign, Paul Manafort, both pleaded not guilty on Monday following an indictment of 12 charges including money laundering. 39, money and conspiracy. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 30: Kevin Downing, a lawyer for Paul Manafort, leaves the US William B. Bryant Annex Courthouse after Manfort is indicted on Monday, October 30, 2017 in Washington. (Photo by Matt McClain / The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 30: Former Trump campaign president Paul Manafort gets into his car after leaving federal court on October 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Paul Manafort and Rick Gates have been indicted by a federal grand jury as part of the investigation into Russia's interference in the US election. (Photo by Drew Angerer / Getty Images)
Paul Manafort, former US President Donald Trump's campaign director, is leaving the US courthouse E. Barrett Prettyman after being indicted on October 30, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Former President Donald Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of conspiracy and money laundering after the Justice Department unveiled the first acts of torture. charge in the investigation relating to the Russian interference in the elections. Manafort, 68, and his 45-year-old business partner, Rick Gates, pleaded not guilty in a Washington court after being accused of hiding millions of dollars from their work while working for the company. Former Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Moscow political party.
/ AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (The photo credit should correspond to BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Getty Images)
Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump (right), leaves the US courthouse in Washington, DC on Monday, October 30, 2017. The federal inquiry into the collusion of President Trump's campaign with Russia took a major turn Monday as the authorities A former campaign leader, his partner and a former political advisor were charged with three people, including money laundering crimes, lying to the FBI and conspiracy. Photographer: Zach Gibson / Bloomberg via Getty Images
