Sheldon Whitehouse got a 15-year old girl killed when he was Rhode Island Attorney General (1999-2003.)

#SCOTUShearings
#SheldonWhiteHouse
#AmyConeyBarrett

Her name was Jennifer Rivera.

(see the final tweet in the thread for supporting documentation)

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In 1999, Jennifer witnessed a murder behind her house; she identified Charles Pona as the killer and was willing to testify at his trial. Pona is a horrible person. Jennifer was to be the state's star witness.

She was 15 years old.
#SCOTUShearings

2/

Despite repeated pleas for help to Sheldon Whitehouse's office regarding the death threats she was receiving from Pona and his crew, Sheldon basically just told her to relax, that she'd be fine.

Sheldon was supposed to protect Jennifer. He failed.

She was 15 years old.

3/

Incredibly, on March 1, 2000, Sheldon Whitehouse's office arranged for Pona to be released on bail ahead of his MURDER TRIAL THAT JENNIFER WAS TO TESTIFY AT AND DESPITE SHELDON KNOWING THAT JENNIFER WAS RECEIVING DEATH THREATS FROM PONA.

She was 15 years old.

#SCOTUShearings
4/

Jennifer Rivera was shot in the head and killed on May 21, 2000. She was playing jump rope in front of her house.

Jennifer and her mother again expressed concern for her safety in the days before she was murdered.

Sheldon Whitehouse did nothing.

Jennifer was 15 years old.

5/

Jennifer's mother later sued the State of RI for failing to protect her daughter despite numerous pleas for help. Sheldon Whitehouse and his associates claimed that Rivera never really asked for protection (gimme a f*cking break,) and the case was dismissed.

#SCOTUShearings

6/

Sheldon Whitehouse blamed the system for Jennifer's death; he feigned outrage for 5 min and then moved on to the U.S. Senate.

Pona's murder conviction for Rivera's death was overturned - he's locked up for life on other charges, tho.

#SCOTUShearings

7/

Sheldon Whitehouse flies under the radar, mostly b/c RI is a deep blue state. He's rarely challenged for his Senate seat or questioned on this case.

Sheldon Whitehouse is a coward and a hypocrite.

RIP Jennifer Rivera, a brave, beautiful soul who deserved so much better.

8/

Sources:

https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1039044/state-v-charles-pona/

https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/SupremeCourt/OpinionsOrders/pdf-files/S.%20v.%20Pona%20summary.pdf

https://turnto10.com/archive/conviction-in-witness-murder-is-overturned

https://apnews.com/article/7007d99b5f885d9ba5fbdf934330ae17

https://turnto10.com/news/local/community-honors-providence-teen-on-19th-anniversary-of-her-murder

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/312/175/2469446/

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