(NewsNation) — He’s not happy about it, but retired FBI agent Stuart Kaplan says he understands the announcement that the migrants accused of beating a couple of New York City police officers in February have been offered plea deals.
“Does it inflame, or concern, you know, upset us? Yes,” Kaplan told NewsNation’s “CUOMO” on Wednesday. “But if you leave out the legalities of their status … here in the United States, it’s not outside the realm of what potentially would be offered in a case like this.”
As with all cases, says Kaplan, the prosecution must decide if it’s a winnable case.
“The prosecutors have to weigh and measure the evidence, and they gotta be sure that they can prove that these cops were injured.”
Kaplan says it would be nice to see the suspects deported, but that’s not in the cards.
“New York State does not have the authority to force the federal government to detain and remove these individuals — and, quite frankly, that’s what should happen,” he added.
Three of the suspects were offered deals that would have them serve one year in jail for pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Two others were offered pleas that would put them behind bars for six months. And one other suspect must decide whether to take a deal that would mean two years in prison.
