Pennsylvania governor will not oppose Meek Mill’s release on bail

The state won’t stand in the way of the rapper’s release.

March 23, 2018
Pennsylvania governor will not oppose Meek Mill’s release on bail Meek Mills performs in Atlanta. November 20, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.   Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Bacardi

On March 14, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that his office was unopposed to the release of Meek Mill on bail. He cited the "strong likelihood" that his 2007 drug and weapons conviction would be overturned in the wake of a police corruption scandal that includes Meek's arresting officer. On Friday, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf co-signed Krasner's position on Twitter.

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"I support D.A. Larry Krasner's position in the case of Robert Williams (Meek Mill)," Wolf wrote. "Our criminal justice system is in need of repair." Read the tweet below.

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Wolf's announcement puts increasing pressure on Judge Genece Brinkley, who has overseen Meek Mill's probation since 2007. This week, attorneys for Meek Mill asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to release the rapper on bail, and filed a second petition to remove Brinkley from the rapper's case, claiming she has taken an “unusual interest.”

“We are grateful for the Governor’s support of Meek Mill and this is further indication that Meek should not spend another minute in jail," Meek's attorney Joe Tacopina said in a statement. "Following the District Attorney’s response to our filing, we immediately wrote to Judge Genece Brinkley and she has yet to respond. Never in my career have I ever seen a Governor and District Attorney publicly state that a defendant should be granted bail, yet Meek still remains wrongfully imprisoned.”

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Pennsylvania governor will not oppose Meek Mill’s release on bail