Drug dealer granted clemency by Trump sent back to prison for violating terms of his release

"A convicted drug dealer who had been granted clemency by President Donald Trump was sent back to federal prison on Monday for violating the terms of his release after being charged with several new crimes. Jonathan Braun was sentenced to 27 months behind bars. The Long Island man had been accused of swinging an IV pole at a hospital nurse and threatening to kill her, screaming at a member of his synagogue, groping his family's nanny and evading bridge tolls."

"Prosecutors had sought a five-year sentence, the maximum punishment allowed, arguing that a lengthy stint behind bars was "necessary to protect the public from further crimes." "The defendant's brazen and violent conduct caused fear and terror in his victims," prosecutors wrote in a court filing ahead of his sentencing. Braun, they said, has continued to show that he is a "serious danger to the community.""

"Since returning to jail, she said, Braun has been meeting with a psychiatrist, gotten sober and worked to rebuild his faith and community support, talking with a rabbi twice a week and expressing remorse to him for his actions. Braun's conduct, she said, was driven by addiction. "The past seven months in custody have given Mr. Braun significant time to reflect on the very serious harm his behavior caused, and to take steps to ensure that he can be successful on supervision moving forward,""

Jonathan Braun, a convicted drug dealer previously granted clemency by President Donald Trump, was returned to federal prison after violating the terms of his release and facing new criminal charges. Federal authorities accused him of violent and disruptive acts including swinging an IV pole at a hospital nurse, threatening to kill her, shouting at a synagogue member, groping his family's nanny and evading bridge tolls. Prosecutors sought the maximum five-year sentence, calling him a serious danger to the community. A judge noted his expressions of remorse but warned him not to squander the clemency. His defender reported treatment, sobriety efforts and renewed religious support while in custody.

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