Rep. Jeffries, Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, Blasted on Twitter After Saying ‘Lock Up’ Kyle Rittenhouse 

Social media users called out Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) after he called for Kyle Rittenhouse’s incarceration on Wednesday afternoon.

“Lock up Kyle Rittenhouse and throw away the key,” tweeted Jeffries while Rittenhouse’s trial was airing live on television. 

Lock up Kyle Rittenhouse and throw away the key.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) November 10, 2021

However, Jeffries is a critic of America’s criminal justice system, and has often criticized the country for jailing too many citizens. 

“End. Mass. Incarceration. Defund The Prison Industrial Complex,” Jeffries tweeted in June 2020. 

End. Mass. Incarceration.

Defund The Prison Industrial Complex.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) June 29, 2020

As recent as March 2021, Jeffries called mass incarceration a “stain on our democracy.”

Many social media users quickly pointed out the hypocrisy of Jeffries wanting Rittenhouse to be jailed.

For someone who has (rightly) dedicated much of his work to reforming the criminal justice system, this is really disappointing.

Principles should remain consistent, no matter how unsympathetic you find the defendant to be. Otherwise they’re meaningless.

— Billy Binion (@billybinion) November 11, 2021

“What changed dude?” one user questioned. 

@hakeemjeffries what changed dude? pic.twitter.com/pNs0qqQB0f

— NKLyles (@LylesNk) November 11, 2021

“This you?” asked radio host Dan O’Donnell. 

This you? pic.twitter.com/BbsaKaeiXb

— Dan O’Donnell (@DanODonnellShow) November 10, 2021

This is why politicians rarely accomplish criminal justice reform. Because they always abandon principles in the name of politics.

— Christie Smythe (@ChristieSmythe) November 10, 2021

Others lambasted the congressman for commenting on a local trial that is happening outside of his congressional district.

“This is a sitting congressman commenting on a jury trial as it happens. Very disturbing,” tweeted  Fox News senior editor Will Ricciardella.

This is a sitting congressman commenting on a jury trial as it happens. Very disturbing. https://t.co/8UeytpcUlg

— Will Ricciardella (@WillRicci) November 10, 2021

Sitting member of congress and chair of House Democratic Caucus https://t.co/q8R0J3ATVL

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) November 10, 2021

Rittenhouse is on trial for the shooting of three men that happened during a 2020 Black Lives Matter riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He took the stand in his own trial on Wednesday.

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