New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin visited rapper Meek Mill in prison on Tuesday. NBC 10 Philadelphia helped break the news of the surprise visit of the two team owners.
BREAKING: @Patriots owner Robert Kraft visited Meek Mill today in state prison as the #FreeMeekMill campaign continues to play out in the courts. https://t.co/24fJukV0Qa pic.twitter.com/eCvVrz5Gr9
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) April 10, 2018
Outside of the correctional facility, Kraft stated:
“I’ve had the pleasure, through Michael, [of] getting to know him over the last two to three years – maybe even longer. Every time I see him, I just come away more impressed. It makes it clear to me we have to do something with criminal justice reform.”
Kraft also called Mill an “amazing young man” who has been unfairly punished by the current criminal justice system. Here is the full video of Kraft speaking to the media after his visit with Mill.
Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison last November for two arrests earlier in the year that violated the terms of his probation. The decision was heavily scrutinized with many saying the punishment of two to four years is in violation of Mill’s Eighth Amendment rights.
The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states:
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
There are some who feel that the judge that presided over Mill’s trial, Judge Genece E. Brinkley, has made this trial into a “personal vendetta.” The sentencing sparked a movement to have Mill released from prison and has involved a wide range of people, including Philadelphia 76ers legend Julies Erving, current 76ers rookies Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, and Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf.
Though many are upset and outraged about what has happened to Mill, Kraft was optimistic about what will happen to Mill once he is released.
“I’m going to make a prediction. And this is what amazed me about his depth and intellect. When he gets out, he’s going to turn this thing around and inspire a lot of other young people who have been treated unfairly. And he will turn this negative situation into something very positive.”
