Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said Hinckley was well on his way to being fully released from court oversight, setting a final release date of Wednesday. The judge had approved an agreement last September between the Justice Department and Hinckley for his “unconditional release”, without restrictions on his travels or Internet activity. The judge then said the restrictions would have been lifted “long, long, long ago” if Reagan had not been Hinckley’s target. Hinckley attempted to assassinate Reagan outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, on March 30, 1981, hitting the former president with a bullet and seriously injuring then-press secretary James Brady, who was partially paralyzed. Hinckley was quickly arrested outside the hotel and investigators found he had chased actress Jodie Foster and said he was trying to impress her with the assassination attempt. He was found not guilty of insanity and spent almost 30 years in a psychiatric hospital. He was released in 2016 and had lived for a time in Williamsburg, Virginia, with his mother, who died last year. Over time, he underwent extensive mental health treatment and received permission from judges to visit with his family. He was eventually granted court permission to start posting music on the internet under his own name. Hinckley’s YouTube channel, which publishes original songs and covers, has more than 28,000 subscribers. The Presidential Foundation and the Ronald Reagan Institute on Wednesday asked CNN in a statement issued earlier against Hinckley’s release. “The Reagan Foundation and the Institute are both saddened and concerned that John Hinckley Jr. will soon be released unconditionally and intends to pursue a lucrative music career,” the statement said. “Mr. Hinckley is responsible for the assassination attempt on President Reagan and the shooting of three other brave men, one of whom died of his injuries years later. from his insult “. During the September 2021 hearing to determine the circumstances of Hinckley’s release, lawyer Barry Levin said there was extensive evidence from independent psychologists and experts that Hinckley’s mental illness was in full, stable and complete condition. “for more than three decades.” Doctors, Levine added at the time, have repeatedly concluded that Hinckley is not a danger to the public and is sincerely committed to continuing his treatment and treatment. This story has been updated with additional details.
