Van Jones believes Meek Mill will be free within the next two months.
The REFORM Alliance CEO expressed his confidence Tuesday, after Meek appeared in Pennsylvania Superior Court in an attempt to get his 2008 drug and weapons conviction overturned. The rapper's legal team has demanded a retrial, citing a number of credibility concerns about the officer who testified against Meek as well as the case's presiding judge. The former, officer Reginald Graham, was reportedly placed on the D.A.'s "do not call" list because of his history of misconduct. The latter, Judge Genece Brinkley, has been accused of having a personal vendetta against Meek because he allegedly denied several of her business-related requests.
Brinkley slapped Meek with a two- to four-year prison sentence over a probation violation that stemmed from the aforementioned case.
Jones told reporters Tuesday he is confident a retrial will be granted at the defense and prosecution's request.
"We are one step closer to justice. This hearing was an extraordinary moment where you have attorneys on both sides saying that a new trial should go forward," he said outside the courthouse. "I have been in criminal justice for 25 years, I've never seen a district attorney's office be calling for a new trial at the same time the defendant is calling for a new trial."
Jones went on to point to several factors that warrant a retrial:
"Meek Mill should have never been convicted in the first place. He was convicted on the testimony on a completely disgraced and discredited police officer," he continued. "[...] The judges themselves seem convinced that the underlying facts are not at dispute: The cop that put Meek Mill in prison is completely not credible [...] We are one step closer to justice for Meek Mill and one step closer to justice in Pennsylvania."
Jones said if a retrial is granted, it's unlikely Meek's original conviction will hold up, as the only prosecution witness in the original trial was Graham.
"That cop cannot be called in the case. So if a new trial is ordered, it is hard for us to imagine the District Attorney being able to go forward," he said. "We think we are three to six weeks away from a decision in this case that will right an injustice that has been on the books and ruining Meek's life [...]"
You can hear Jones' comments below.
Tuesday's hearing reportedly lasted 30 minutes, and concluded without a ruling.
We'll keep you updated as more information about the case becomes available.
