From an article in the Bemidji Pioneer, a newspaper website. Bemidji is located in northern Minnesota.
Written By:
Paul John Scott |The author is described as
the health correspondent for NewsMD and the Forum News Service . He is a novelist and was an award winning magazine journalist for 15 years prior to joining the FNS in 2019. (Reference).
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I don’t know what this means but I thought it was interesting. This excerpt refers to a forensic psychiatrist and veteran of television appearances named Dr. Michael Welner. He testified for the defense in the Chauvin trial.
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Welner is listed as the forensic psychiatry expert in the Chauvin defense. An avowed Donald Trump supporter who charges $700 an hour, he is a fixture on cable TV as well as the developer of a so-called "depravity standard" intending to assist courts in ranking some crimes as more evil than others.
In 2016, Welner went on CNN and called then-candidate Trump "the embodiment of healthy narcissism." He was briefly in contention for a top mental health position under the former president, but has also been called "an embarrassment to our profession" by an opposing colleague.
As a retired psychotherapist I have to say that if this psychiatrist considered Trump “the embodiment of healthy narcissism “ I have serious concerns about his clinical acumen.
Trump considered him for a top post:
Trump’s Latest Pick for Mental-Health Post Has Helped Prosecutors Secure Convictions — Forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner has testified in high-profile cases; on television, he has called killers ‘alienated losers’
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is struggling to fill a top mental-health post, a job created last year to coordinate the efforts of far-flung federal agencies.
The assistant secretary position in the Department of Health and Human Services was first offered to a Florida judge, but the offer was withdrawn due to his lack of a medical background, according to people familiar with the matter. A second candidate had broad support but pulled out.
Now a leading contender is Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist who has testified for the prosecution in numerous high-profile criminal cases, according to a half-dozen people familiar with the process including Dr. Welner himself. He faces opposition for some controversial positions.
If nominated, Dr. Welner would have to be confirmed by the Senate.
He has made a career of testifying in court about the psychiatric state of people accused of crimes including murder and terrorism, often challenging other experts in arguing that defendants understood their actions.
You can read more about Dr. Welner on Wikipedia.
I’m just sayn’ and don't know whether this is relevant or not.
