Todd M. Siebert: Reagan biographer: Hinckley release ‘purely political decision’

John Hinckley

A noted historian and lecturer who has written several books about Ronald Reagan and his presidency is warning that the decision by a federal judge to release John W. Hinckley Jr., the man who tried to kill Reagan in 1981, is a “travesty” and a threat to society.

The comments are from Craig Shirley, whose works “Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America,” “Reagan’s Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All” and “Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan” are among many writings about the late president.

It was reported Wednesday that Hinckley will be released from a government psychiatric hospital after more than 35 years.

Judge Paul L. Friedman of Washington determined the 61-year-old isn’t a significant danger to himself or others any longer.

He set a number of restrictions on Hinckley, but they could be dropped over the next year, “removing him from court control for the first time since he was confined to St. Elizabeth’s hospital after the shooting.”

Hinkley has been allowed supervised visits with family over the years.

Chaos outside the Washington Hilton on March 30, 1981, after John Hinckley tried to assassinate President Reagan.

“After 34 years as an [inpatient] at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and in view of the foregoing findings, and the successful completion of over 80 … visits to Williamsburg over the last 10 years, the court finds that Mr. Hinckley has received the maximum benefits possible in the inpatient setting,” the judge said.

See “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” and other writings on the subject, at the WND Superstore.

“The court finds by the preponderance of the evidence that Mr. Hinckley will not be a danger to himself or to others if released on full-time convalescent leave to Williamsburg under the conditions proposed.”

He could be sent back if he causes trouble, and is not allowed to go beyond a 50-mile radius of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Shirley expressed outrage.

“The decision to release John Hinckley Jr., from St. Elizabeth’s psychiatric hospital after his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan is outrageous, disgraceful and a travesty of justice,” he said in a statement.

“No matter how much supervision he has, John Hinckley cannot be trusted to move and function in society. Even though his victims, President Ronald Reagan and White House Press Secretary James Brady have passed on, Mr. Hinckley remains a threat,” he continued.

“According to the Secret Service, he is still obsessed with Jodie Foster. Hinckley’s actions remain a terrible stain on American history and a reminder of the lifetime of damage that can be caused by one man in a matter of seconds.”

Actress Jodie Foster

Shirley charged that the judge is motivated by politics.

“This is a purely political decision by Judge Paul L. Friedman who clearly wishes to corrupt Reagan’s legacy. Judge Friedman was appointed to the bench by President Bill Clinton in March of 1994. Just as a jury of liberal Washingtonians came to the liberally biased verdict that John Hinckley was innocent by reason of insanity, so too is this decision,” he wrote.

“Hinckley is the murderer of Jim Brady and attempted murderer of Reagan, police officer Thomas Delahunty and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy.

“Once again, corrupt liberal justice was served, but justice was not served for the four victims of Hinckley’s sick actions,” he wrote.

Hinckley’s attack not only wounded Reagan but also press secretary James Brady, U.S. Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy and Washington policeman Thomas Delahanty. It was two decades after the shooting, but Brady eventually died of complications from the injuries he sustained in the shooting. His death officially was ruled a homicide.

Hinckley explained he tried to shoot Reagan to impress Hollywood actress Jodie Foster.

A jury in Washington considered 13 charges against Hinckley,but found him not guilty by reason of insanity.

The Washington Post reported the backlash was so severe 38 states and the federal government changed their laws to raise the standard of proof for insanity defenses.

Others reacted with surprise. Radio talk show host Mark Levin tweeted, “I never thought I’d see the day when John Hinckley, Reagan’s would-be assassin, would be released; the world is nuts.”

Hinckley’s lawyer, Barry Levine, highlighted the judge’s determination that Hinckley isn’t dangerous.

“Mr. Hinckley recognizes that what he did was horrific. But it’s crucial to understand that what he did was not an act of evil. It was an act caused by mental illness,” he said. “He is profoundly sorry, and he wishes he could take back that day, but he can’t. And he has lived for decades recognizing the pain he caused his victims, their families and the nation.”

Don Bongino, whose “Life Inside the Bubble” recounts his tenure as a Secret Service agent protecting presidents, wasn’t reassured.

“Just because he hasn’t acted up in a clinical environment in decades, doesn’t mean he does not have a proclivity to act out violently when he’s out of that setting,” he told the Post.

Bongino noted the significant burden that will be added to the Secret Service, especially whenever a president travels near Williamsburg.

“They are going to have do some kind of surveillance operation and watch him whenever the president is around,” Bongino said. “There is no room for error on this.”

President Ronald Reagan being shoved into his limousine by Secret Service agents after being shot March 30, 1981.

President Ronald Reagan being shoved into his limousine by Secret Service agents after being shot by John Hinckley.

Hinckley reportedly struggled with mental-health issues in high school and eventually stalked Foster, then a Yale student.

After he shot Reagan, police found a letter he had written in which he said, “Jodie, I’m asking you now to please look into your heart and at least give me a chance, with this historic deed to gain your respect and love.’

Court records from St. Elizabeth’s physicians found he was delusional and had a raging narcissistic personality disorder.

But the judge’s ruling said doctors believe Hinckley’s “primary diagnoses of psychotic disorder … have been in full and sustained remission for well over 20 years.”

But the judge also noted that as recently as 2015, Hinckley was willfully deceiving authorities about what he did during unsupervised periods of his times away from the hospital. And the judge said some experts asked for continued corroboration of Hinckley’s activities and whereabouts, based on his “history of unreliable self-reporting.”

The ruling states Hinckley’s family supports him and would continue to do so, although members expect he will receive government benefits to assist with expenses.

The judge found Hinckley is on Risperdal and Zoloft and his “narcissistic personality disorder is significantly attenuated from its previous state.”

“Mr. Hinckley continues to exhibit symptoms of self-importance, but he no longer exhibits the intense self-absorption and grandiosity that was present.”

The court also is counting on his 90-year-old mother to provide supervision when he lives with her.

“My father did more than say the Lords Prayer He lived it in forgiving John Hinkley Jr…Maybe we should do the same,” Michael Reagan, Ronald Reagan’s son, tweeted following the announcement of Hinckley’s release.

Reagan-Michael