Nadler tells DOJ to free prisoners

It’s “business as usual” at U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country despite the coronavirus pandemic, N.Y. Rep. Jerry Nadler complained, calling for an immediate release of inmates vulnerable to infection and a slowdown on new federal arrests.

Nadler (photo), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr that DOJ was not moving quickly enough to protect the 250,000 people in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals.

“We urge you to put in place measures to ensure that both the flow of prisoners into federal facilities is slowed significantly and that prisoners who can and should be released are released forthwith. We cannot wait any longer to take action,” Nadler, a Democrat, wrote Thursday.

“In spite of the recent national emergency declaration and the fact that state and local prosecutorial agencies and courts across the country have made adjustments to their charging policies and are releasing prisoners who are at high risk of getting sick, it appears that it is “business as usual” in many U.S. Attorney’s offices. If true, this is deeply distressing.”

The Federal Defenders, which represents most people who cannot afford a lawyer, echoed Barr’s call in a separate letter.

“The COVID-19 global pandemic has turned our nation’s jails and prisons into ticking time bombs,” the group wrote.

Inmates’ visits with family and attorneys have been suspended amid the outbreak. The Daily News reported on Thursday that federal judges are beginning to grant bail to accused crooks to keep them out of troubled local lockups.

DOJ did not reply to a request for comment.