In a recent district attorney debate, Emma Rivas, a bereaved mother whose son was murdered in 2016, publicly criticized Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascn for his progressive policies.
Rivas accused Gascn of demonstrating more compassion for criminals than for their victims.
Rivas' son, aged 25, was tragically killed by a gang member. "My child was killed by a gang member, and you had more sympathy for that gang member than my child who was killed in front of my home. Can you explain to me? Because I've been looking for you for four years," Rivas declared.
Gascn, who has held the position of Los Angeles County District Attorney since 2020, responded to Rivas' accusations. "Look, I am broken-hearted for your loss. Yes, I am," he said, before defending his policies. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. We as a country and we as a community have been doing the same thing for generations," he added.
Gascn's tenure as District Attorney has been marked by controversy, largely due to his progressive, lenient approach to crime. His policies, backed by George Soros, have been blamed for the increasing lawlessness in the area. Despite facing two recall attempts since 2020, Gascn has managed to retain his position.
One of Gascn's most contentious policies was his decision to prohibit prosecutors from seeking enhanced punishments for gang members, as reported by KTTV. This policy has been widely criticized, with 11 primary challengers now vying for Gascn's position and speaking out against it. During the debate, Gascn was the only candidate who did not support the idea of gang-related crime enhancements.
In a subsequent interview with "Fox & Friends Weekend," Rivas continued her criticism of Gascn. "This is the first time in history, 180 years, that we've ever had a DA that has a heart for criminals and not a heart for the victims. There are parents that lost their children to murder that are 16, 17 years old and getting five years in jail. Where's the justice in this?" she asked.
Rivas also questioned Gascn's suitability for the role of District Attorney, citing his previous tenure as DA of San Francisco from 2011 to 2019. "And he sits there smiling and laughing, and he just doesn't care," Rivas said. "He's not fit to be a DA, and his assistant is a defense attorney. How did we get to this? And why aren't people realizing this man is no good for L.A.? He already ruined San Francisco, and now he's doing the same thing in Los Angeles County."
Despite the criticism, a KTTV poll shows Gascn leading the race with 15% support, followed by Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami with 8%. However, 64% of those polled are still undecided about their vote in the upcoming DA election.
Hatami, in a post on X, stated, "I'm running for District Attorney for ALL of you. Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between. We are the leading challenger in this race. We are leading because people are tired of crime and want to be safe in their homes, their schools, their neighborhoods and their businesses. They want their children to be safe. That isn't political. It's the right of all of us."
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