CNN’s Van Jones is under fire for remarks he made regarding the murder of Ukrainian refugee Irina Zaltoska, suggesting that the suspect’s actions had “harmed” him. This comment followed the shocking killing of the 23-year-old on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, and arose during a discussion about the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., who made a statement about “the one who hurts the wounded” during his appearance on “CNN Newsnight” Monday night.
Jones expressed confusion about Brown’s motivations after federal charges were brought against him. Notably, Brown, a serial offender, has a record of over 13 arrests.
In addition, Jones downplayed the significance of cashless bail, especially after Brown was released earlier this year.
“It’s not about cashless bail, it’s about the fact that this guy doesn’t understand how to interact with people who are wounded like he is,” Jones commented. “People who are injured tend, unfortunately, to harm others.”
His comments ignited backlash across the political landscape, with some liberals also criticizing his attempts to find empathy for the perpetrator.
One user on X highlighted the absurdity of Jones’ remarks, stating, “Seriously, no one cares about his so-called ‘harm.’ There’s no justification for violence like this. This is just a bizarre level of empathy.”
Another commentator remarked, “It’s true that those who commit serious crimes often have their own pain, but who cares about that? Our priority should be on protecting society from them.”
David French, a columnist for the New York Times, suggested that these incidents should encourage reform and prompt politicians to confront issues related to habitual offenders.
Jones had not responded to inquiries for further comment as of yet.
