Today, convicted war criminal and former Liberian President Charles Taylor received a 50 year prison sentence for providing arms and other support to violent rebel forces in Sierra Leone. Congressman Jackson expressed a satisfaction with the proceedings, while acknowledging that no sentence would be too harsh for the crimes Taylor committed.
"While I'm pleased with the outcome of Charles Taylor's trial, I believe the prosecution's desired sentence of 80 years would have sent an even stronger message of justice to the families who suffered during Taylor's regime, and other world leaders who've committed heinous acts against innocent people.
"Today's sentence is a warning to the likes of Bashar al-Assad, that violence committed against innocent civilians, directly or indirectly, will not go unpunished, and justice does indeed prevail."
Taylor's sentence comes approximately one month following his conviction of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.