PPG Editorial: Impeachment of Philadelphia DA a shameful attack on democracy

[FakeNoose]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Editorial Board, November 20, 2022
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2022/11/20/krasner-philadelphia-criminal-justice-reform-impeachment/stories/202211160096

Members of the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday voted to impeach Philadelphia’s twice-elected district attorney, Larry Krasner. The 107-85 vote, almost entirely along party lines, is an unabashed and unprecedented attack by the General Assembly on the right of local communities to govern themselves.

Never mind the baloney from House Republicans expressing concern for the people of Philadelphia. Allowing the General Assembly to remove an elected local official, without proper cause, would set a horrible and illegitimate precedent, threatening the autonomy of local communities and disenfranchising their voters.

The constitutional standard for impeachment is high, and the House hasn’t come close to meeting it. Only twice in the last 200 years has the House impeached an elected official — a State Supreme Court Justice in 1994 for improper influence by a political supporter, and a county judge in 1811 for imprisoning people for wearing hats in court. Both cases met the constitutional grounds for impeachment: misbehavior in office.

“Misbehavior” means malfeasance, misconduct or corruption. There is none in Mr. Krasner’s office. Instead, the articles of impeachment blame Mr. Krasner’s reform measures for a two-year spike in gun violence, and allege he was derelict in his duty to protect citizens. No evidence, however, directly links Mr. Krasner’s policies with an increase in homicides that is affecting major cities nationwide, including Pittsburgh. More to the point, if “misbehavior” meant policies legislators don’t like, every elected official in Pennsylvania would be subject to the whims of the General Assembly.

“This is a complete abuse of the process,” Jane Roh, spokesperson for Mr. Krasner’s office, said this week.

- more at link -

Even the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is calling this Krasner impeachment a sham and an attack on democracy. Thank God/Goddess that the voters have seen fit to turn the House BLUE after 12 years of partisan abuse. This is no way to run a state that considers itself the cradle of democracy.

[nycbos]

1. Some people said there is a connection between Boudin's recall in SF...

... and Krasner. Because both are considered "progressive prosecutors" and are facing heat.

But there is a big difference. Boudin was removed by the voters of SF in a recall election. Kranser won two elections.

This is just a power grab by Republicans.

I'm not from Philadelphia. I'm going to take an educated guess that some of the criticisms of him are fair and some are not. Most things in life are not black and white.

[FakeNoose]

2. How does the state legislature get to undo what the voters of Philadelphia have decided?

They want Larry Krasner as their DA. He's been elected twice. The Legislature has no say in the matter, unless he's guilty of wrong-doing and abuse. There is no such evidence, even the Post-Gazette (owned by Block family MAGAts) says so. This is all political BS from the getgo.

[nycbos]

3. That's what I said.

Read my post. I said it was a power grab. Krasner won two elections and Boudin was ousted in a recall election. I just pointing out the difference.

[Deminpenn]

4. Phila FOP hates Krasner with a passion

They urged their members to register or re-register as Dems to try and oust Krasner in the last Dem primary. They backed Carlos (iirc) Vega, an asst DA who resigned after Krasner was elected the first time, in the general election, too. Krasner has been relentless in uncovering police misconduct and holding them accountable. They haven't been able to beat him at the polls. My guess is the FOP and its state House allies pushed the impeachment.

If you can, watch the PBS series "Philly DA". It documents Krasners first term in office and interviews those who agree and disagree with his approach.

[FakeNoose]

5. Sometimes FOPs sound more like Mafia orgs than police fraternities

Just sayin'