(Abdul–Rahman Oladimeji Bello, Headline USA) PolitiFact got slammed for trying to contextualize Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s claim about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Desantis asserted that the Soros-funded district attorney was in the habit of downgrading most felonies occurring in Manhattan. However, PolitiFact received the heat on Saturday after posting a fact-check with a contextual clause.
According to Fox News, the reporter who wrote the fact check, Jill Terreri Ramos, concluded it was true. However, the attempt to brush it off as a regular practice in the area did not go unnoticed.
“DeSantis claimed that Bragg has downgraded ‘over 50% of the felonies to misdemeanors.’ Data from Bragg’s website confirms that 52% of felonies that were screened by prosecutors were downgraded to misdemeanors in 2022, the first year Bragg was in office. 2023 data show that so far, 54% of felonies have been downgraded to misdemeanors,” Ramos wrote.
“Experts said that downgrading charges is a common practice and that it was done more often in three of New York’s other boroughs, according to state data from 2021.” she continued. “We rate this claim True.”
PolitiFact also tweeted, “Yes, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has downgraded felonies as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said,” acknowledging that Bragg truly downgraded over 50% of felonies to misdemeanours as DeSantis asserted. However, the organization added, “but it’s a common practice among peer counties.”
Yes, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has downgraded felonies as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said, but it’s a common practice among peer counties. https://t.co/To8hRQb0iV
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) April 11, 2023
The squishy addition immediately sparked an adverse reaction, as critics slammed the organization’s attempt to normalize the practice.
DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin tweeted, “Yes, @GovRonDeSantis was correct. But @PolitiFact feels compelled to note it’s simply ‘common practice’ to refuse to hold criminals accountable in NY.”
Yes, @GovRonDeSantis was correct. But @PolitiFact feels compelled to note it's simply "common practice" to refuse to hold criminals accountable in NY. https://t.co/b1orfgIFmL
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) April 11, 2023
Radio host Joe Cunningham also posted a sarcastic reaction to PolitiFact’s tweet, writing, “‘We regret to inform you that Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is correct.”
"We regret to inform you that Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is correct." https://t.co/jXx3ekBiop
— Joe Cunningham (@JoePCunningham) April 11, 2023
RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway also tweeted, “PolitiFact’s rulings start to make sense when you realize it is a political disinformation organization for Democrats.”
PolitiFact's rulings start to make sense when you realize it is a political disinformation organization for Democrats. https://t.co/ItU94c5mBK
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) April 11, 2023
Minnesota House Republicans executive director Andrew Wagner also commented on Twitter.
Most of our public safety problems in Minnesota and nationally would be solved by judges and prosecutors enforcing sentences pursuant to state law.
Insane that it's become "common practice" for half of felonies to be downgraded. #mnleg https://t.co/L9CxaRtPns
— Andrew Wagner (@andrewwagner) April 11, 2023
