The U.S. Department of Justice is catching some much deserved heat after recommending that ex-Louisville officer Brett Hankison — who was convicted of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights — serve just one day behind bars!
As we previously reported, Brett has been charged with firing recklessly during the 2020 raid that ended with 26-year-old Breonna’s death. Though Brett didn’t fire the bullet that killed her, the DOJ claims he deserves credit for time already served. But here’s the kicker — that charge carries a max of life in prison.
The sentencing memo wasn’t even signed by the trial prosecutors, but instead by Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump appointee who now heads the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division — and who’s also been criticized for rolling back police accountability measures in both Louisville and Minneapolis.
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Lonita Baker, and Sam Aguiar are calling the recommendation a slap in the face:
“This recommendation is an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jury’s decision. Every American who believes in equal justice under the law should be outraged. It is unfathomable that, after finally securing a conviction, the Department of Justice would seek a sentence so drastically below the federal guidelines.”
“This sets a dangerous precedent. When a police officer is found guilty of violating someone’s constitutional rights, there must be real accountability and justice. Recommending just one day in prison sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity.”
Crump continues, “The family asked for one thing: that Brett Hankison be sentenced in accordance with the law and federal guidelines. Instead, Tamika Palmer is left, once again, heartbroken and angry. Still, she is holding out hope and praying that the judge will do what the DOJ has refused to do –– uphold the law, respect the jury’s verdict, and deliver true justice for Breonna Taylor.”
The Department of Justice has recommended that former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison serve only one day in prison after being convicted of violating Taylor’s civil rights during the 2020 raid that ended in her death.
And Rep. Morgan McGarvey, who represents Louisville, echoed that outrage:
“A one-day sentence for blindly firing 10 shots into Breonna Taylor’s home is morally reprehensible. This is a dark day for our city.”
Breonna was killed in her own home during a botched raid. She wasn’t even the target of the investigation. Her boyfriend legally fired a warning shot at what he thought were intruders — and officers opened fire.
The backlash is LOUD — and growing. Activists, attorneys, and Taylor’s loved ones say the DOJ just sent a clear message: Black lives still aren’t being protected under the law.
