This 'tough-on-crime' Republican has showed a 'frightening laxity regarding sex offenders'

In Kentucky, former federal prosecutor Russell Coleman is seeking the GOP nomination for state attorney general. The pro-Donald Trump Coleman is running on a tough-on-crime platform and has been railing against "woke prosecutors."

But according to The New Republic's Tori Otten, Coleman showed "frightening laxity regarding sex offenders" during his time as a U.S. attorney.

"When Coleman unveiled his campaign for attorney general in May," Otten explains in an article published on September 12, "he highlighted a commitment to be tough on crime — a popular Republican talking point…. He has repeatedly stressed his commitment to 'protect Kentucky families' and support police efforts to put criminals in jail, citing his past experience as U.S. attorney…. But while serving as U.S. attorney, Coleman offered at least 48 plea agreements to people accused of exploitation of or sexual offenses against children."

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Otten continues, "Nearly half of those agreements included dismissing certain charges or recommended sentences far weaker than those the judge ultimately issued, the latter of which rarely happens."

The reporter notes that in the United States v. Leasor, defendant Brian Leasor was accused of accessing child pornography.

According to Otten, "Coleman offered him a deal: In exchange for Leasor pleading guilty, the charge of attempted receipt of child pornography would be dropped."

In the United States v. Beauchamp, defendant Steven Beauchamp was arrested for sending sexually explicit images to an undercover police officer he believed was a 14-year-old girl. Coleman, Otten reports, "offered Beauchamp a plea agreement for between 15 and 17.5 years in prison and no supervised release."

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Read The New Republic's full report at this link.