(Anthony Hennen, The Center Square) A growing public outrage over George Soros-funded district attorneys refusing to enforce the rule of law in several major U.S. cities has sparked a showdown between Philadelphia’s corrupt leftist D.A. and Pennsylvania’s Republican-led legislature.
In August, a House committee investigating Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner issued a subpoena to his office.
Krasner, however, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he would not comply and called the investigation “illegal” and “anti-democratic.”
House Republicans vowed to move forward without Krasner’s cooperation.
“It is profoundly troubling that the District Attorney of Philadelphia is objecting to a bipartisan legislative effort to consider how public safety in the city can be improved to ensure residents and visitors are safe,” said Jason Gottesman, press secretary to House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff.
“Rather than work with the committee and take the opportunity to share his views on how his policies are impacting public safety in the city, the DA has instead chosen to litigate the matter in the press,” he added.
House Resolution 216, adopted in June, created the Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order “to investigate, review and make findings and recommendations concerning rising rates of crime, law enforcement and the enforcement of crime victim rights.”
The committee is solely focused on crime and enforcement in the city of Philadelphia and how public funds are spent to enforce the law and prosecute crime.
Kraser became D.A. in 2018 and was re-elected last fall.
Republicans have been critical of him as Philadelphia’s murder rate has dramatically risen.
Philadelphia saw 280, 277, and 315 murders in 2015-2017, respectively, but figures have increased signficantly since 2018, when 353 murders were committed. Last year, 562 people were killed, and the city is on pace to set a new record in 2022.
“Since the beginning of the effort to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, we have heard from countless Pennsylvanians, business owners and families who are fed up with the absolute lawlessness in Philadelphia,” said Rep. Josh Kail, R-Beaver/Washington, when introducing the House Resolution.
“While DA Krasner has been transparent in his willful dereliction of duty to enforce the law and should be removed from office, it is imperative the House takes a comprehensive approach to holding Philadelphia officials accountable,” Kail said.
Krasner has blamed structural problems such as education and a lack of access to housing and jobs for why crime has gone up, while his critics fault him for not prosecuting alleged criminals.
Other Soros-backed district attorneys have also come under criticism across the country.
San Francisco D.A. Chesa Boudin was recalled and replaced in July by one of the prosecutors who left the office when he took over.
Similar recall efforts are afoot against Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg and Los Angeles D.A. George Gascon, though a recall petition against the latter recently failed to qualify for the ballot.
While Philadelphia’s murder problem has grabbed state and national attention for good reason, it’s not the only city in Pennsylvania that struggles to combat serious crime.
Pittsburgh’s number of murders has climbed from 78 in 2011 to 123 in 2020. While Harrisburg has a much smaller population, it also has seen murders in 2022 outpace 2021.
Even if state Republicans fail to impeach Krasner, murder and crime will remain a hot issue in the city.
“I am considering running for mayor to put a stop to this trend,” former City Councilman Allan Domb tweeted. “Violence in our city is completely out of control and it’s time we did something about it.”
I am considering running for mayor to put a stop to this trend. Violence in our city is completely out of control and it’s time we did something about it. https://t.co/3ecMeWff8W
— Allan Domb (@VoteDomb) August 23, 2022
