Jamal Trulove, previously wrongfully convicted under then-DA Kamala Harris, now endorses Donald Trump for the upcoming election, citing dissatisfaction with Harris.
Just The News reported that Trulove, a film director and actor, faced a severe miscarriage of justice when he was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder during Kamala Harris's tenure as the District Attorney of San Francisco. The jury delivered their verdict based primarily on the testimony of a single witness in October 2008 for a murder that occurred in 2007.
This conviction led to a harsh sentence of 50 years to life in prison for Trulove.
Harris was in office from 2004 to 2011 and had significant influence over Trulove's case.
Trulove spent almost seven harrowing years in prison before his conviction was overturned in 2015. This decision was primarily due to prosecutorial misconduct identified during his initial trial. He was acquitted of all charges in a retrial, shedding light on significant flaws in the case constructed against him.
Following his acquittal, Trulove pursued justice through civil avenues. He filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of San Francisco, which concluded in a $13.1 million settlement to him in 2019.
This lawsuit highlighted the overarching issues of misconduct and malpractice within Harris’s office during her tenure as District Attorney.
Trulove's traumatic experiences at the hands of the justice system under Harris deeply influenced his view of politics and justice in America. He initially supported the Biden-Harris ticket during the 2020 election but has recently expressed his disillusionment with both.
This political shift comes amidst reflection on Harris's record with criminal justice, where her policies, according to Trulove, led to increased incarceration rates for Black individuals in San Francisco.
The actor’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump comes with criticisms of both former Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Trulove cites the 1994 Crime Bill, which Biden supported, as a basis for his skepticism towards the Democratic party. His shift is further anchored by his negative experiences with Harris, especially recalling an incident during his sentencing where he claims Harris laughed.
"In 2008, I was framed for murder and wrongfully convicted by the office of Kamala Harris, sentenced 50 years to life in prison," Trulove recounted. A notable interaction that stayed with him was during his verdict reading, where he felt Harris displayed a dismissive attitude towards his conviction.
Reflecting on his interactions and the subsequent trauma, Trulove speaks vocally about his political stance.
"When Trump was in office, things were cool. Groceries were low, and we weren't at any wars,” he noted, contrasting it with the current administration's policies. His personal and political disillusionment with Harris is clear: "But every time I see Kamala, I am traumatized by this woman."
Trulove’s political endorsement carries significant weight due to his direct experiences and the broader implications of his wrongful conviction.
"And if you’re wondering if I’m going to be voting for Kamala Laugh-a-Lot Harris, no," Trulove stated emphatically, signaling his complete renouncement of the current vice president.