"Basically" is doing a lot of work in that sentence:
> In September, Griffith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate international sanctions against North Korea. Griffith was arrested in November 2019 after giving a talk at a cryptocurrency conference in Pyongyang in April of that year.
> “What you see here is an intentionality…and a desire to educate people on how to evade sanctions,” [U.S. District Judge Kevin] Castel said.
> Judge Castel read a series of text messages and emails from Griffith in which the defendant admits to sharing information with North Korea for the express purpose of helping the repressive Kim regime evade sanctions.
> What the judge found most damning, perhaps, was a photo of Griffith presenting at the conference, wearing a traditional North Korean suit and standing in front of a blackboard on which it read “No sanctions!” with a smiley face.
It's so funny how people are so happy to jump in defense of the US regime.
Are international sanctions laws just? Should the US government have the right to bar other countries from transacting financially with the world?
> Griffith has been limited to two or less meals a day, usually peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, because gangs in MDC control the kitchens and the commissary
Gangs control US prisons because the US government is too incompetent to properly administer their prisons.
The judge refused to send him to a lower-security prison (this guy is clearly not a physical security threat) because allowing him to avoid gang-conflict would "not be enough punishment".
> Are international sanctions laws just? Should the US government have the right to bar other countries from transacting financially with the world?
North Korea happily transacts with China. It just can’t transact with us or with our friends. This makes sense given Pyongyang has credibly stated it would be happy to bomb us and our allies. If someone wants to work for our enemies, a few years in jail is–historically and compared to how other countries treat such people—quite light.
>Are international sanctions laws just? Should the US government have the right to bar other countries from transacting financially with the world?
Yes and yes. With being the #1 super power country in the world, a lot of power comes with that.
Griffith could have avoided ever being in prison had he not ignored the US government, lied to FBI agents, and then attempted to assist NK in evading sanctions.
> Are international sanctions laws just? Should the US government have the right to bar other countries from transacting financially with the world?
The US government supporting international sanctions by penalizing institutions and individuals who violate said sanctions?
Yeah, I have no problem with that…
And prison is designed to be a n unnice place, for the longest time the Maricopa County (where Phoenix is) jail was a bunch of tents because they didn’t want people to be there. Foreign nationals got nice air conditioned cells but your basic DUI offenders (and random petty criminals) got to go to Tent City.
