Kamala Harris backtracks, now says criminals like Boston bomber ‘should be deprived’ of right to vote
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}EDITOR’S NOTE: A prior version of this report misstated Harris’ comments regarding those who served time and are prohibited from voting.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., is now backtracking after initially saying “we should have that conversation” about allowing criminals currently in prison -- such as the Boston Marathon bomber -- to vote.
Appearing at a televised town hall event following 2020 Democratic frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. -- who made headlines by advocating for voting rights for felons serving time. -- Harris was also asked to weigh in.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I think we should have that conversation,” Harris told CNN anchor Don Lemon.
GUTFELD ON BERNIE SANDERS LETTING FELONS VOTE FROM PRISON
Well, that conversation appears to have ended.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sanders had said that those convicted of sexual assault and of crimes like terrorism -- like Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev -- should be able to vote in order for the U.S. to sustain a “vibrant democracy” and to increase voter turnout.
But on Tuesday, while speaking to a press gaggle in New Hampshire, Harris expanded on her remarks at the CNN town hall and gave what her national press secretary Ian Sams called a “thoughtful answer.”
Harris called the issue of allowing felons to vote in prison “complex” and said she was going to “talk to experts” about the matter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}She added that there was “a lot of work to do” regarding the 6 million people who served time and are still prohibited from voting.
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“Do I think that people who commit murder, people who are terrorists should be deprived of their rights? Yeah, I do. I’m a prosecutor,” Harris said. “There has to be serious consequences for the most extreme types of crimes.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Also during Monday night’s town hall, Harris joined her colleague, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in calling for President Trump’s impeachment. She also vowed to take executive action on gun control if Congress doesn’t act in her first 100 days in office as president.