Los Angeles County’s new district attorney, George Gascon, is facing major pushback from his own prosecutors for his extreme liberal policies, including ending cash bail and the death penalty.
Orange County, Calif. District Attorney Todd Spitzer argued Gascon is “so far off the reservation” with his policies.
“I’m very concerned. Mr. Gascon was very transparent and very clear that he was going to implement these reforms when he ran for office. He was elected to do this. This is a decision that Los Angeles made,” Spitzer told “America’s Newsroom” Thursday.
Spitzer went on to say his duty is to warn his constituents, as he represents the largest county in California with 3.3 million people. The Orange County district attorney stated he will not risk the implementation of Gascon’s reforms.
“No bail? First of all, let me make something very clear. I believe we need to re-examine bail. It is very unfair to people who can’t afford to get out because they can’t write a check to get out on bail. However, we agree to a risk assessment when the legislature considered this with SB10,” Spitzer explained.
The SB 10 law established a risk-assessment program that allowed judges to decide which suspects to free and which should remain in jail while awaiting trial. Under SB 10, most suspects charged with misdemeanors were freed until their trials.
The Orange County district attorney continued to address Gascon’s lack of discussion for the “broken windows crime.”
Spitzer explained the list of crimes includes driving on a suspended license and without a license, trespassing, loitering, and drinking in public.
“If you don’t enforce those laws do you understand what is going to happen to our communities? People who are already exploiting and loitering and taking advantage? The property values in Los Angeles are going to plummet. The streets are going to be out of control. No one is going to be safe. No one is talking about that side of the equation. That concerns me greatly, as well,” Spitzer said.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami also voiced his concerns about Gascon’s policies, arguing there needs be some sort of reform and those reforms need to be “based upon the law.” Hatami said the reforms need to protect the public and children.
Spitzer expressed he is “proud” of Hatami for being one of the only prosecutors coming forward about Gascon.
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“[Gascon] will not go after hate crimes. It’s ridiculous and L.A. is in jeopardy, so is Orange County and the rest of the nation, quite frankly.”