In a recent interview on NewsNation's "Dan Abrams Live," Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell, a Republican, responded to Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's request for the extradition of murder suspect Raad Noah Almansoori to New York City.
Mitchell clarified that her refusal to extradite Almansoori was not a matter of "petty politics," but rather a decision rooted in the legal process and the severity of the crimes committed in her jurisdiction.
Abrams questioned Mitchell's stance, suggesting that it might be politically motivated. "Im no fan of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Ive been critical of him on a number of fronts here. But there is something that feels like petty politics about this, no? Abrams queried.
Mitchell firmly dismissed the insinuation. "No. Its not petty politics," she stated. "This individual, Mr. Almansoori, came into Maricopa county, which I am sworn and elected to protect, and he brutally stabbed two women said that his intent was to kill them, said his intent was to rape them. These are mandatory prison sentences in Arizona. One count alone carries a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison. So its not that were refusing to extradite, its simply that were going to go. I have him here without bond, meaning he cannot bond out, he can not post any amount of money to get out of jail, and I believe that that is the best place for him right now."
As the discussion continued, Abrams referred to Arizona's criminal code 13-3842, which outlines the legal procedure for extradition. Mitchell countered, emphasizing that Almansoori is charged with "very serious felonies" in Arizona, and that the norm in such cases is "not to extradite."
Mitchell also addressed Bragg's claim that her decision was politically motivated. While expressing her "utmost respect" for the New York Police Department (NYPD) and crime victims, she pointed out that four illegal immigrants who had allegedly assaulted two NYPD officers in Times Square were able to leave jail and subsequently ended up in Maricopa County.
"The norm is not to extradite, the norm is that the person who has him goes first. Now there may be some exceptions if the crime here would be less serious, but the bottom line is he is non-bondable here, we do have extremely serious charges here, and we are going to go first," Mitchell reiterated.
Almansoori was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, last weekend for allegedly stabbing two women. He was already wanted by New York authorities for allegedly murdering another woman, Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, on Feb. 8. Almansoori is currently being held without bail on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and theft of means for acts in Surprise, Arizona, as well as robbery, assault, theft, and criminal damage within Phoenix, Arizona, as reported by NBC News.
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