Elizabeth Warren Shames Republicans For Trying to Shield Corporate Criminals

[Stellar]

“We have one set of laws on the books, but there are really two legal systems. One legal system is for big companies, for the wealthy and the powerful…In this legal system, instead of demanding actual punishment for breaking the law, the government regularly accepts token fines and phony promises to do better next time,” Senator Warren said. “The second legal system is for everyone else…In this legal system, the government locks up people up for decades, ruining lives over minor drug crimes, because that’s what the law demands.”

At issue is the Republicans running to the rescue of white-collar criminals again, even when there is evidence that it is already very difficult to prosecute corporate actors for suspected criminal deeds because it is hard to prove intent. Instead, regulators have relied on civil actions and fees, which clearly shows the disparity in justice between everyday people and the wealthy and powerful.

So Republicans are trying to make it harder to prove intent for white-collar criminals. They are doing this by holding up a bill that is supposed to help reduce mandatory sentences for low-level drug offenders unless Congress includes a “mens rea” amendment that would make it harder to prosecute white-collar criminals.

“If adopted, this amendment would severely weaken the already anemic enforcement of federal white-collar criminal laws,” Warren wrote in a report called “Rigged Justice” that she released last week.

Republicans didn’t leave off their protection of the wealthy there, however. They have another bill (H.R.766) that would make it harder to investigate and prosecute bank fraud. Senator Warren was not impressed with that bill, either. It is set for a vote Wednesday.

more: politicususa I love Senator Warren!