Kerry Washington on Convicting Donald Trump and Voting for Criminals

Kerry Washington

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Kerry Washington speaks candidly about her thoughts surrounding Donald Trump’s impeachment and how he could still run for president.

in Conversation with hustle Before release Not imprisoned In the second episode of the second season on July 17, she also talked about the ways criminals might be viewed differently now that the former president has been convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

“Everything “My feelings about the so-called justice system have changed,” she told the publication. “We are in an interesting moment when it comes to [the question of]“What is a criminal?” I love what people share on social media, [saying that] “If someone with a criminal conviction is still able to run for president, we should remove that box from job applications.”

the The actress and producer also pointed out that if a criminal can run for president, he should be able to vote.

“this” huge. hugeThe irony is that [Gov.] “Ron DeSantis was trying to make it impossible in Trump’s home state,” she continued. “A bill had passed in Florida to allow formerly incarcerated people to vote, and DeSantis was trying to do everything he could to get it done.” [undercut] “Donald Trump may not be able to vote in his home state.”

She explained that being a criminal has become another box that people are put into and assumes who they are and what they are capable of, similar to gender or race. She also noted that when she appeared in scandalThis was the first time that many people had allowed a black woman to spend so much time in their homes.

“She was a real human being, beyond the description of a ‘black woman.’” [She had] “It was full of complexity, nuance, flaws, and ingenuity. It was ambitious but also very messy,” Washington said, adding, “Now we’re allowing this kind of social and psychological depth with criminals and returning citizens as well.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, The actress shared how she felt attending white institutions, like the Spence School in New York City and George Washington University, gave her the opportunity to enter elite spaces in her career.

She revealed that going to those schools allowed her to have more confidence in typically white settings as a black woman.

“When people find out that I went to Spence, they immediately soften and invite some idea of ​​normal,” she said. “Suddenly, I fit into the picture, as if just telling them that I went to Spence means that we’re all acknowledging that I understand their ground rules, that I’m not going to do anything that makes them uncomfortable because I’ve been well-trained. And as a black person, there’s a sense that I have to be exceptional to be allowed into this space.”