Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford Released Early From Prison
An attorney for former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford says he will be released from prison after years of being sick.
Langford was serving a 15-year sentence at a federal prison in Kentucky after being convicted of public corruption and taking bribes of $235,000.
The former mayor has been sick with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and and emphysema. In November, the Federal Bureau of Prisons denied him a request for compassionate release noting “his release at this time would minimize the severity of his offense and pose a danger to the safety of the community.”
On Christmas Eve, Langford’s attorney, Tiffany Johnson Cole, said he was in critical condition and was not expected to last through the week. Since then, residents have spoken out about their support for Langford at a prayer vigil. Langford’s niece also asked TV reality star Kim Kardashian West to intervene as she has done previously for another inmate.
@KimKardashian
I’m praying with all my heart that this works. Im sorry to bother you Mrs. West. I’m hoping that you get this in time. My name is Beverly Langford. I’m from Birmingham, Al. My uncle Larry Langford is dying in federal prison. Help for compassionate release please?— Beverly Langford (@Cornerstone2926) December 27, 2018
U.S. Attorney Jay Town announced today the decision by the BOP would be overturned.
“After reviewing the information provided by the Bureau of Prisons, it was our judgement that compassionate release and reduction of sentence was appropriate under these limited circumstances,” U.S. Attorney Jay Town said in a statement.
It is unclear when Langford will be released.
Israel’s military says aid airdrops will begin in Gaza as hunger grows
Israel's military said the airdrops would begin Saturday night in Gaza, after mounting accounts of starvation-related deaths. Israeli officials also said humanitarian corridors will be established.
Taiwanese political gridlock endures as China-friendly party survives recall vote
A months-long recall effort to oust lawmakers considered pro-Chinese has failed in the self-governing island's legislature.
‘Scotland is already great.’ Protesters troll Trump on his golfing trip
The U.S. president is spending a long weekend in his late mother's birth country of Scotland. There, he's been confronted by protesters waving photos of Jeffrey Epstein.
Southwest aircraft takes a dive to avoid midair collision
The Southwest Boeing 737 dropped almost 500 feet to avoid another aircraft.
Remembering David Nabarro: ‘a great champion of global health and health equity’
That's how the head of the World Health Organization paid tribute to Nabarro's lifelong public health leadership. A physician, Nabarro was a leading voice in the effort to quash the COVID-19 pandemic.
PEPFAR escaped the rescission ax. But where does it stand?
Founded by George W. Bush, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief was taken out of the list of agencies that lost previously pledged funds. But its future is far from certain.
