Washington Post reporter Seung Min Kim revealed that Senate Republicans are "bitterly" divided over President Donald Trump's prison reform promise.
Prison reform was one of Trump's campaign promises. He has advocated for prison reform and has even received support from celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Pastor John Gray.
However, during a private lunch about prison reform, Senate Republicans appeared divided over the issue and in "opposition" to Trump's stance.
"The divisive nature of the criminal justice overhaul within the president’s own party could imperil what Trump has zeroed in as a top priority in the waning weeks of the year. The bill revises key sentencing laws by easing some mandatory minimum sentences and several other changes while implementing efforts to help rehabilitate prisoners," she wrote.
Kim noted the limited timeline the GOP is also on.
"The timing issue is one that is particularly irksome to some Senate Republicans who would like to support the bill but are wondering why Congress has to pass it this year, particularly with other must-pass priorities competing for lawmakers’ attention before the holidays," Kim wrote.
Kim added, "The legislation’s authors aren’t completely ruling out changing the bill. But they are aware of the risk of rupturing the deal made with Democrats and the Trump administration and aren’t eager to do so for the sake of just gaining more Republican votes if it’ll sap Democratic ones."
“I think most people in that room are sympathetic with what (is) being attempted. They’re just not quite convinced this has got it right," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis) said.
If prison reform does not pass soon, it could be a huge win for Democrats because it would get passed under the Democratic Congress.
Read the full report here.
