What was the stated reason for giving Trump this award?
Trump speaks at HBCU Benedict College as students are asked to stay in dorms, Oct. 25, 2019.
Trump was honored for leadership in the passage of the First Step Act, which expands opportunities for elderly inmates to get released, increases the amount of good-time credit inmates can receive and has provisions to help inmates transition back into society.
Has the organization issued any public statements explaining in more depth their reasoning for granting the award to President Trump?
So far, only was was posted on Facebook.
20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center, October 25 at 4:13 PM.
Today at @the2020club_ Symposium, the 2020 Bipartisan Justice Center presented President @realDonaldTrump with the 2019 Bipartisan Justice Award for his leadership in the passage of the historic First Step Act.
Other public statements have been made in support of President Trump's actions for criminal justice reform.
This Facebook post was shared the same day as the executive order, March 7, 2018: 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center.
“The executive order signals how this administration values access to meaningful employment, and understands how empowerment to achieve after payment of debt to society benefits individuals, their families and our nation’s economy,” says Rufus Montgomery 20/20 Co-Chairman.
20/20 Leader and State Representative Shamed Dogan (R-MO) added “We’re proud to stand with President Trump on the right side of criminal justice reform; problems with reentry have plagued communities across our country for years.”
Additional sources
Axios reports Trump launches council for prison reform and crime prevention, Mar 7, 2018.
President Trump on Wednesday launched, by executive order, the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry. The president enacted the council with the aim of reducing crime while looking for ways to "provide those who have engaged in criminal activity with greater opportunities to lead productive lives."
The executive order text: Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry.
This is also interesting.
Trump to receive Bipartisan Justice Award during stop at SC black college
[Note that parts of the quote are in dispute, see comments.]
It also looks like the "organization" (20/20 Club) that gave him this award, was founded by a Trump Suppoter
20/20 is headed by Founder & Ashley D. Bell, Esq.
About - 2020 Club [Dead link]1
Ashley was appointed on February 21, 2018 by the White House to serve as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration for Region IV; serving nine districts located in the 8 Southeastern States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Regional Administrator Bell has oversight of over $5 billion in SBA-backed lending, the Counseling arm of the SBA, which counseled over 225,000 entrepreneurs last year in Region IV, and the contracting programs for small business, which account for over 23% of all federal contracts awarded.
Ashley Daniel Bell, Esq. | The U.S. Small Business Administration | SBA.gov
1 Ashley Bell (politician)
Bell is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center, which purports to be the only nationwide coalition of Black Republicans, Democrats and Independents focused on criminal justice reform.