20 Oct D.A. Gascón Derided by Challengers Over Special Directives at Candidate Forum
From Metropolitan News-Enterprise, Friday October 20, 2023
Brickbats were hurled at Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón during a candidate forum at which all nine announced prospective election challengers to him were present, and Gascón was not, with special directives which the incumbent issued on Dec. 7, 2020, his first day in office—and, in particular, his ban on seeking sentencing enhancements—coming under fire.
Former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman told the audience in the City of Industry, with live coverage being provided over the Internet:
“Certain people who steal just under $950 will never be prosecuted.”
Gascón has announced that his office will not prosecute anyone under the age of 18 on a misdemeanor charge.
“Certain sentencing enhancements—if you use a gun, for instance—will never be prosecuted,” Hochman continued, adding:
“I would remove the blanket policies that have removed the individualized analysis from the greatest asset we have: our deputies, our investigators, our law enforcement partners.”