My Daughter Got 5 Years. And Trump's Boys Get What?

"I am writing now because I am outraged: While my daughter languishes in prison, those actually responsible for threatening our election continue to get off easy." So writes Billie Winner-Davis in an Intercept article about her daughter, Reality Winner. A 27-year-old US Air Force veteran, Winner got five years—the longest-ever sentence for such a crime, her mom says—for revealing an NSA report on Russian military phishing attacks on US election officials. But what about the misdeeds of Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, and Michael Cohen? They "do not appear to be paying near the price that she and our family are paying," writes Winner-Davis.

Manafort was allowed to visit his family for Christmas in 2017 while Winner was denied bond and celebrated "fresh fruit, a gift from a local church ... the very first fresh anything since her arrest." Gates, who apparently committed tax evasion and conspiracy, hasn't been stuck in prison. Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty to lying about the Russia story, got 14 days. Flynn, whose crimes recently angered a judge, is charged only with lying. Cohen, charged with nine crimes, got just three years in prison. "It sends the clear message that if you are poor and powerless in this system, you will be abused," writes Winner-Davis. "I am outraged. I hope you are too." BoingBoing linked to a petition on Winner's behalf. (See why Winner-Davis "strongly" opposed an espionage charge against her daughter.)