Did Donald Trump's cuts and hiring freezes help enable Epstein's suicide?

[lapucelle]

Just in case the plan is to have the buck land squarely on the shoulders of hard-working, blue collar union men and women, here's some background information for context. From a June 2018 NYT story.

Safety Concerns Grow as Inmates Are Guarded by Teachers and Secretaries

It was not uncommon in the past for prisons to occasionally call upon support workers as substitute guards, especially in emergencies. The practice, which leaves other prison functions short-handed, came under criticism during the Obama administration, which moved in its final year to cut back.

But as the shortage of correctional officers has grown chronic under President Trump — and the practice of drawing upon other workers has become routine — many prisons have been operating in a perpetual state of staffing turmoil, leaving some workers feeling ill-equipped and unsafe on the job, according to interviews and internal documents from the Bureau of Prisons.

snip===================================================================

Although staffing shortages existed before Mr. Trump took office, a governmentwide hiring freeze just four days into his administration pushed the bureau’s employment into a downward spiral.

The freeze was lifted elsewhere in April 2017, but it stayed in place at the bureau for several more months. From December 2016 to March 2018, the number of correctional officer vacancies, including supervisory roles, grew by almost 64 percent, to 2,137 from 1,306, according to the bureau — nearly 12 percent of all correctional officer positions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/us/prisons-safety-substitute-guards.html

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The Council of Prison Locals C-33 is the most organized Council within the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Organization representing more than 30,000 bargaining unit employees in the United States, including its US Territory of Puerto Rico. The Council is made of workers in virtually all levels of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Here's some of what's listed on the union's page with links to recent news.

As the Trump administration touts prison reform as a victory, the Federal Bureau of Prisons struggles

Demoralized Federal Prison Officers Feel Left Behind By 'Law And Order' Trump

As Health Conditions Worsen At Prison Holding 1,000 Detainees, Staff Fears A Riot

Short-staffed, Victorville prison union claims health care lacking for immigration detainees

Federal prison workers protest in Victorville, saying the transfer of detainees creates a dangerous situation

Safety Concerns Grow as Inmates Are Guarded by Teachers and Secretaries

Massive Contraband Smuggling Problem, Staffing Shortage Behind Security Lockdown at Federal Prison

White House-backed prisons bill divides parties, hits roadblocks in Senate

Trump Administration Draws Bipartisan Concerns for Flouting Congress on Federal Prisons Staffing

Federal budget cuts may remove positions at Wisconsin's only federal prison

Rep. Marino Leading to Protect Federal Prison Jobs in Pennsylvania

https://www.afge.org/cpl33

[lame54]

1. If so...

Then it's a win-win for him