sentencing submission, the government stressed deterrence. as you just did as well. here, they felt the need to request the most severe, some might say, draconian sentences, that they have requested to date. they are trying to distinguish the sentencing that they are requesting here from sentencings that have been handed down before. including for the oath keepers, which was about half what they are requesting here. they are doing that mostly based on deterrence, but also by noting that this was the worst group, essentially, they were the leaders. the first ones to breach. at several points, they have the most followers. so that is their justification for these outsized sentencing request. sente charles, what do you tk of the disparity as of now? we now have charges against the ex president. but up until now, this disparity between the footsoldiers and the folks calling the shots at the top. and what that means for whether
entire operation. donald trump. charles blow he s an opinion columnist in the new york times. danya perry as well as deputy chief of the criminal division in the southern district of new york. who both join me now. danya, i m curious of what you think of the doj s sentencing request here. and how the process goes into making these requests, generally speaking across the board? there are specific factors that the government is supposed to consider in making their sentencing request. and that the judge is required to consider as well in issuing a sentence. they include, as you say, deterrence, both specific to the individual defendant, and also general, to the population. as you alluded to, they need to avoid sentencing disparities. the particular characteristics of the individual. there are a number of factors that go into it. here, of course, in their
pardon. what are the scenarios for him cooperating now with jack smith s criminal probes? well, look, it s very common that a conspiracy investigation, and that s what this is, the special counsel is looking at conserving action to disrupt the joint session. some co-conspirators who have exposure have a strong incentive to cooperate with the government and reduce that exposure. so, i don t know if there s been some sort of deal made between meadows through counsel and jack smith and his team and is essentially not being charged, or charged without a specific sentencing request, in change for cooperation. that may be what s going on here. it may be that he s testifying in the hope that he isn t somehow implicated or indicted. my guess is there are extensive discussions between meadows counsel and the special counsel, sort of articulating the terms of his testimony, the