California Gov. Gavin Newsom has reached a decision on a pair of clemency requests for Erik and Joseph “Lyle” Menendez, the two Beverly Hills brothers serving life without parole for the murder of their parents in 1989.
He will hold off until the newly elected Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has time to review the case, respecting the will of the voters who sent the far left progressive George Gascon packing on Election Day, he said.
“The Governor respects the role of the District Attorney in ensuring justice is served and recognizes that voters have entrusted District Attorney-elect Hochman to carry out this responsibility,” Newsom’s office said in a statement. “The Governor will defer to the DA-elect’s review and analysis of the Menendez case prior to making any clemency decisions.”
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney general during the President George W. Bush years, previously told Fox News Digital he would not reach a decision of his own until he becomes “thoroughly familiar” with all aspects of the case.
“I will have to review the confidential prison files for each brother, the transcripts from both trials, and speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel, and the victims’ family members,” he said shortly after his Election Day victory. “Only then can I make a decision. If, for some reason, I need additional time, I will ask the court for that time.”
The Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing, requested by Gascon just days before he lost his re-election bid, is scheduled for Dec. 11.
“Once I take office on December 3, I look forward to putting in the hard work to thoroughly review the facts and law of the Menendez case, including reviewing the confidential prison files, the transcripts of the two trials, and the voluminous exhibits as well as speaking with the prosecutors, defense attorneys and victim family members,” Hochman said Tuesday.