Why Trump should commute Lisa Montgomery's death sentence

Why Trump should commute Lisa Montgomery's death sentence

I have spent my career battling violence against women. As a prosecutor, I bore witness to the devastating effects of sexual abuse, rape and child trafficking on girls. I have also seen how our society has failed to protect child victims of sexual violence.
The Trump administration has worked to step up prosecutions of traffickers and protections for victims, particularly women and children. The government has expressed a willingness to leverage its considerable resources to eradicate human trafficking, and it has followed up this promise by committing increased funding and law enforcement personnel to the problem. This is vitally important work that must continue.

But I was disheartened to learn that the federal government planned to execute Lisa Montgomery on Jan. 12, 2021. A judge ordered a stay on the case, but the ruling allowed that a new execution date could be set after Dec. 31. Executing Montgomery would be a grave injustice, because she is herself a victim of child sex trafficking.
According to court documents, in Montgomery's early teens, her mother began selling her to adult men for sex. Instead of protecting her daughter's innocence, this woman - whose heavy drinking during pregnancy left Montgomery brain-damaged - allowed her daughter to be raped over and over. This, she insisted, was her child's duty to "earn her keep."
As happens to many victims of trafficking, the very systems that were supposed to protect Lisa Montgomery did nothing. Though school and child welfare authorities suspected abuse, they did not intervene. Montgomery has said she tried to tell authorities what was happening to her, but help did not arrive. Social services removed her older sister from the home because she, too, reportedly had been raped repeatedly, but they left the younger girl behind.
Eventually, Montgomery developed a dissociative disorder, which can be the brain's response to extreme trauma, particularly childhood sexual violence. Mental health experts have explained that there is a direct line from the relentless abuses Montgomery suffered to the tragic crime she later committed. After being coerced into getting sterilized and, according to court documents, in the grip of mental illness, Montgomery strangled a pregnant woman and took the baby from her womb.
Her lifetime of sexual torture is not, as the federal prosecutors insisted at her trial, an "abuse excuse." It is an important and, indeed, unsurprising explanation for her actions that should mitigate in favor of a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of release.
More than a decade ago, when Montgomery was prosecuted, we did not know as much as we now do about the long-term effects of commercial sexual exploitation of a child. And since Montgomery was sentenced to death, our legal system has evolved to reflect this understanding through the development of laws designed to protect the victims of child sex trafficking. The government must continue to uphold and expand upon these protections.
Tragically, we cannot go back in time to protect Lisa Montgomery, nor can we undo the pain and loss her crime has caused. Even so, President Trump can take a simple but powerful action that would continue his groundbreaking work on behalf of the victims of human trafficking. He can commute Montgomery's death sentence to one of life imprisonment with no possibility of release. This would be an appropriate and just extension of mercy.


the convicted woman is clearly mentally ill - which is different from a legal definition of insanity. I agree with the author - her death sentence should be commuted to life without parole. She is too mentally ill, and committed too grievous a crime - ever be free.



In addition, we should take a serious discussion of banning 'teh' death Penalty in America. It is not a deterrent, and the finality of execution permits no redress of miscarriage of justice. And to be sure - there have been - and may again be, innocent individuals executed in America.

Some criminals should never be free to commit heinous crimes again, and life without parole allows for correction of miscarriages of justice. IMHO - it may well be a worse punishment to be locked in a cell for life - with no chance of parole, than to get an 'easy way' - a painless execution, out of 'teh' prison penal system.

Biden is reported as an opponent of the death penalty - and on this matter I agree with him.

Senile or Not!


DPST's - do you have anything cogent and constructive ?

yr, 1b1, mm's . python, 'a' etc - or just the usual name-calling, insults, and scatology???
Are you capable of elevating discourse above your hatred of Conservatism, and of me. ?

Before I pass judgment on your story and subsequent insulting challenge, how about linking to the source?

Otherwise, we’re just debating in the dark.

However, the glorious praise the story heaps on Trump is a small indicator of where you might have found it, and why you wouldn’t post it.

Step up of step off.

Before I pass judgment on your story and subsequent insulting challenge, how about linking to the source?

Otherwise, we’re just debating in the dark.

However, the glorious praise the story heaps on Trump is a small indicator of where you might have found it, and why you wouldn’t post it.

Step up of step off. Originally Posted by Yssup Rider

Because of the sexual violence in her childhood, I would be okay with life in prison with no chance for parole. The crime she committed is just too heinous/wicked. A retarded person would never do what she did. She didn't have a full deck of cards upstairs, i don't believe she was insane when she committed the crime.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...Cwl?li=BBnb7Kz
Why Trump should commute Lisa Montgomery's death sentence



As usual - yr - you are insulting - yes i forgot the link - and how many of your posts are linked. ?
it is from the Hill =- a liberal rag.

and - it is all about trump hate for U - not about the issue of Capital punishment.

"Pass Judgment - - like a higher beings judging all humanity???



I might parenthetically add - I think Trump , particularly if he did try to pressure the Georgia election official, is out of line - and it is time for Trump to go.



give up the hate yr - after all - how long is Jan 20th? who will you hate when trump is gone???


It is a New Year - same old DPST's!

Twit head is way took busy trying to corrupt a legal election. I'm betting Paxton hasn't shit right for months Billy bob. He really needs his corrupt ass pardon like a lot of the gop. We already know that the recorded corrupt phone call is fake news lol. If you don't believe me just ask the ignorant racist clueless pi trump cartel supporters. I'm just glad that 82 million Americans agreed with the impeachment. Biggest loser ever!!!

Twit head is way took busy trying to corrupt a legal election. I'm betting Paxton hasn't shit right for months Billy bob. He really needs his corrupt ass pardon like a lot of the gop. We already know that the recorded corrupt phone call is fake news lol. If you don't believe me just ask the ignorant racist clueless pi trump cartel supporters. I'm just glad that 82 million Americans agreed with the impeachment. Biggest loser ever!!! Originally Posted by Tsmokies

82 million agreed with impeachment?

For this you have to provide links polls stats and voter statements from millions!

Just a tad exaggeration I think. hmmmmmmmmm

Oeb, not sure we've ever agreed, but my hat off to you on this post. If readers aren't familiar with Skidmore MO, they should google. Heinous crime for sure, I'll admit, but terrible background as well which is not a free pass either. What gnaws at me is the timing. A few days make the difference between how justice can be administered due to politics not justice.

All those comments about a murderer.
Geeze.
She butchered an 8 month pregnant woman.
Give me a break.
Let god judge her.

And by the way, all of the murderers state and condition of mind were all presented and considered back when she was sentenced a couple decades ago. There's nothing new here at all.

82 million voted against the impeached pos. The corrupter in chief may have received 50 million votes if you throw out the voter corruption in Texas n Florida

82 million voted against the impeached pos. The corrupter in chief may have received 50 million votes if you throw out the voter corruption in Texas n Florida Originally Posted by Tsmokies

you and that other poster keep claiming that. got any proof?


so it's your contention that corruption accounts for Trump winning Texas and Florida butt no such thing could happen in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona or Pennsylvania?



BAHHAHHAAAAAAHHAAAAA

Every real Americans know that only Texas and Florida had corrupt elections. It's really not that difficult since trump is not contesting those rigged states

All those comments about a murderer.
Geeze.
She butchered an 8 month pregnant woman.
Give me a break.
Let god judge her.

And by the way, all of the murderers state and condition of mind were all presented and considered back when she was sentenced a couple decades ago. There's nothing new here at all. Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter

Correct. She killed a pregnant woman and ripped the child out of the womb and ran off with the child.

All the "facts" that are mentioned in the OP may be true.

No matter. Execute her.

Twit head is way took busy trying to corrupt a legal election. I'm betting Paxton hasn't shit right for months Billy bob. He really needs his corrupt ass pardon like a lot of the gop. We already know that the recorded corrupt phone call is fake news lol. If you don't believe me just ask the ignorant racist clueless pi trump cartel supporters. I'm just glad that 82 million Americans agreed with the impeachment. Biggest loser ever!!! Originally Posted by Tsmokies

Inauguration day is January 20th - ts.

Topic is not trump hate - you and your DPST's have proven that your hatred is irremediable. .

Try to read, comprehend, and comment on the topic, dude.
Thank U

and - who will the DPST's Hate when Trump is gone- Answer - Each Other!

You clueless huggers are way tooo easy to fck with. Real Americans with any intelligence get amusement from the biggest loser in chief and clueless supporters. 82 million real Americans voted for to impeach. Biggest landslide for a first term loser ever