An award-winning Reagan historian decried the unconditional release Wednesday of would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr., charging that it signals an open season on conservatives.
Craig Shirley, who has authored four books on former President Ronald Reagan, said that the mid-June total release of the 67-year-old convicted shooter proves that the country has a two-tiered justice system driven by anti-conservative politics.
“The unconditional release of psychopathic madman and murderer of White House press secretary and the attempted murder of President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley by leftists proves we have a two-tiered system of justice in America,” said the statement from Shirley, well known in conservative circles.
“One set for murderers, criminals and liberals, and another for conservatives and God-fearing Americans,” he said.
Shirley pointed to the “not guilty” verdict for Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann by a largely liberal jury this week as a key example.
“The release of Hillary Clinton’s lawyer proves that,” said Shirley.
Critics of the long-expected full release of Hinckley, who shot Reagan, press secretary James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy on March 30, 1981, have said he should die in prison.
But liberals and pro-prisoner reform advocates have pushed for the release, citing reports that Hinckley does not appear to be a threat anymore.
Shirley said he doesn’t buy that argument.
“Hinckley also shot and wounded other brave individuals,” he said, adding, “If he is willing to shoot the president, is any conservative safe?”
Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982. He was released to his mother in 2016.
He claimed that he had an obsession with actress Jodie Foster and thought that the attack outside the Washington Hilton would impress her.
