The latest Donald Trump indictment over classified documents means that we’ll get another media blitz when he appears in federal court on Tuesday for his arraignment. One thing that’s probably not going to happen – Trump getting a mugshot, something that didn’t happen when he appeared in court last time. Rapper Torrence “Boosie Badazz” Hatch Jr. thinks this is a miscarriage of justice.
Hatch appeared on the excellent interview show VladTV and railed against the issue, pointing out that neither Bill Cosby nor rapper 2Pac were able to get out of getting mugshots.
Vlad asked him about the issue and read some previous Hatch comments that said all celebrities shouldn’t get mugshots until they’re proven guilty, as mugshots damage a brand.
“I thought about it I was like ‘how many mugshots they got released for people who were not guilty and it stuck with them and it f**ked with them for the rest of their life?” he asked. “If he can do it it should be allowed for everybody else who have a brand…. Just like he’s the president of the country they have presidents of companies.”
He goes on to say that if Trump doesn’t have to take a mugshot then an “80-year-old woman” accused of manslaughter for killing her husband after a fight shouldn’t have to either.”
Vlad said the rationale for not giving Trump a mugshot is because the purpose of a mugshot is so the person can be identified if they go on the lam. “It’s designed to be posted for authorities to find that person.” Everyone already knows what Donald Trump looks like, he said. Boosie offered a rebuttal:
“Bill Cosby not recognizable? Mike Tyson’s not recognizable?” Hatch gets a little heated when he says the next thing: “Tupac’s not f**king recognizeable? That’s bulls**t.”
He goes on to say that nobody with stature should have to get a mugshot. “It’s called innocent until proven guilty.” He also claims that a mugshot will influence someone’s opinion on the crime and make them assume the person is guilty. “It should not be released until you are found guilty.”
Hatch knows a thing or two about guilty before proven innocent. In 2010 he was accused of first-degree murder, and in 2012 he was found not guilty of that crime. He did serve five years for drug charges, from which he was released in 2014.
Who knows – maybe the law will change. Probably not, but maybe.