Gascon joined the letter’s author, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, in urging the president to “begin your administration with an act of mercy that would carry our nation closer toward justice.”
Gascon is among seven district attorneys, commonwealth attorneys and state’s attorneys who signed the letter, which calls a death sentence “both flawed and irrevocable” and “an instrument of racial bias, disproportionately taking the lives of Black and brown people.”
Others in support of the request included Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo D. Garcia, Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender Erika Anzoategui, Riverside County Public Defender Steven L. Harmon, San Diego County Public Defender Randy Mize. The letter, which comes days after three federal death row inmates were executed in the waning days of then-President Donald Trump’s administration, noted that President Barack Obama had halted federal executions but did not commute the sentences of federal death row inmates.
Gascon — who had written Wednesday in a tweet that it was “past time” to abolish the death penalty and that the justice reform movement had gained an ally in the White House — was sworn into office last month after positioning himself as a reformer during the runoff election against Jackie Lacey, who served as the county’s chief prosecutor for eight years. He immediately issued a series of directives, including one that says that “a sentence of death is never an appropriate resolution in any case.”
Gascon has come under fire from some family members of victims over the directives, with some supporting a planned effort to try to recall him.
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Political Pundit says
Gascon’s mission is to destroy Los Angeles County.
Diana says
Los Angeles County is already destroyed. Vote Democrat,,,, keep the train wreck going!
Laughing says
Both major parties are corrupt.
Vote using a brain.
Alice in democrat hell says
… lamenting capital punishment for heinous crime, out one side of their mouths, talking it up out the other, how wonderful and sporting third trimester abortion is, poaching unborn children who’ve committed no crime, you can’t be a righteous democrat, without being a disingenuous, two-faced hypocrite –
Billy-Bart says
Trouble with the thing, the policy community rigged capital punishment to be, only for the little people.
If we have capital punishment, I think it ought to be meted out, with pride, panache, extreme prejudice, those endowed wealth, status, power and prestige, held to a particularly high standard.
Not the other way around!
For the election riggers in Washington DC, I’m partial to firing squads. But, I pride myself upon keeping an open mind. Perhaps we ought to lend thought to, bringing back ‘ol sparky?
For abortion doctors, the French had a wonderful contraption called, the guillotine.
Gabriel says
I vote hypocrisy a capital offense! Democrat election riggers, to the gallows!
Stinger says
If hypocrisy was a capital offense, there would be no more trumplicans.
Seriously says
Third trimester abortion is only for medical emergencies where it threatens the life of the mother.
But you know that.
Stinger says
I don’t have a problem with the principle of applying the death penalty for appropriate crimes on one condition: we have 100% absolute certainty of the perpetrator. Unfortunately, our current criminal justice system does not allow for that level of certainty, so I can’t support its use until then. Anything less than 100% certainty leaves us, as the body enforcing the punishment, as potential murderers. I have a problem with that.
Seriously says
Video of the perpetrator in action is proof. Skip trial apply punishment.
Stinger says
Accurate video of the perpetrator in actions IS, indeed, proof, provided it stands up to scrutiny. But skipping the trial is not justice; you have to present that proof somewhere and an opportunity for mitigating circumstances to be presented. You seem awful quick to punish without due process.
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” – Gandalf the Grey
Seriously says
Oh, you Gandalf’ed me!
That is a win.
Stinger says
lol
Beecee says
Nerd
Stinger says
Thank you, BeeEss. Rather sad to see that you aren’t one.
Beecee says
You sure seem to put a high value on your opinion….
One that wasn’t asked for.
Stinger says
I certainly value my opinion over those that have none of their own and blindly accept lies from demagogues, BeeEss.
As for it being asked for… you really don’t understand the concept of a discussion board, do you? Guess you really aren’t that bright, after all.
Diana says
Another bleeding heart liberal that feels more sorry for the criminal than for the victim.
GrammaSB says
“a sentence of death is never an appropriate resolution in any case”
Convince a grieving family member of a defenseless Child that was violently murdered and has spent her whole adult life keeping the convicted female murderer in Prison because of the ruling of 25 years to life with the possibility of parole because at the time of the crime the death penalty was not available in our fair state. The surviving family is also serving a sentence due to these professionals way of thinking. SO unfair!