Five minutes Friday night, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester “fairness is overrated” Holt personally led the network’s defense of radical progressive L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon, who’s facing a popular recall effort just two weeks after San Francisco liberals managed to get rid of theirs. And as part of this full-throated defense, Holt blamed local news reporting for stoking a false “public perception” of the crime situation in the city.
“Less than two weeks after San Francisco voters ousted their progressive district attorney, a similar recall effort is gaining speed tonight in Los Angeles County. D.A. George Gascon, defending himself from critics who say his criminal justice reform policies have contributed to rising crime,”Holt was sad as he entered the segment.
He suggested that after playing some soundbites taken from local news reports on the out-of control crime wave gripping the area, he suggest those local reports had “amplified” the “growing sense of unease” and caused a “shift in the public’s perception, shaking the ground in southern California.”
He said all that despite admitting there were “Robberies in broad daylight, heists on the tracks, and homicides on the rise.” He also bemoaned how “the rise in violent crime … began before Gascon took office, [and]Appears to be eroding [the] support”That sweep Gascon into the office.
After playing contradicting soundbites from L.A. residents living in different neighborhoods, Holt let Gascon get away with a mealy-mouthed answer about whether or not the city was safer with him leading the D.A.’s office:
HOLT: Los Angeles County is less safe or more secure since your election?
GASCON: It’s a complicated question. Right? I’m not sure we’re safer than we were 20, 30 years ago, if you’re looking at what occurred in the last three or four years, then it is a higher level of insecurity today.
Instead of pressing Gascon on what he’s doing or plans to do to get the runaway crime situation under control, Holt’s concern was for the public perception of progressive criminal justice policies:
HOST: In many places across the country, we are seeing an increase in crime. We’re seeing progressive prosecutors like yourself under fire. Are you sure that this is a fair representation of the fact that progressive prosecutors are associated with an increase in crime?
GASCON – I’m sorry. California’s more conservative counties have higher levels of per capita violence than California, yet you don’t see anyone blaming them for this increase.
Even as Holt was admitting “hundreds of [Gascon’s] own prosecutors” were taking part in the recall effort (even speaking to 2 of them), he continued to generate an air of suspicion about the recall effort. “Critics blame Gascon’s policies for a surge in shootings, including the killings of two police officers this week, saying he prioritizes criminals over victims,” he said. “At least eight senior D.A.s have sued L.A. County, Allergy they were retaliated against for speaking out against Gascon’s policies.”
And when Holt questioned Gascon about this and “what does it say about [his] leadership,” the embattled D.A. He was allowed to excuse unnamed forces for conspiring against reform. “You have a very strong driving force that is very committed not only to try to remove me from office but, more importantly, very committed to keeping the system the way that it was,” Gascon claimed.
Holt gave his final speech, declaring: “many criminal justice experts say it’s difficult to draw direct connections [from crime] to Gascon’s policies”And again, openly worried about what the future holds for progressive criminal justice reform.
HOLT: It’s easy to believe that things are worsening. Is it possible that they won’t improve?
GASCON: I’m very fearful that it’s happening already.
This is the disgusting defense of an progressive D.A. Prevagen’s and Verizon’s lucrative sponsorships made it possible for him to be recalled. You can find their contact information here.
You can find the transcript below. To read it, please click on “expand”.
NBC Nightly News
June 17, 2022
Eastern at 7:41:23LESTER HOLT – Less than 2 weeks after San Francisco voters reelected their progressive district attorneys, an identical recall effort in Los Angeles County is picking up speed. D.A. George Gascon defends himself against critics that claim his criminal justice reform policies contributed to the rise in crime. It was something I discussed with him.
[Cuts to video]
LOCAL NEWS REPORTER – Violent crime has risen on the streets in L.A.
HOLT: There is trouble tonight in paradise
LOCAL NEWS REPORTER: There’s an increase in follow-home robberies.
HOLT – Robberies occurring in broad daylight and thefts from railroad tracks. Homicides are on the increase. As a rising sense of anxiety grips the area, all this is amplified by local radio waves. Deshaun Bennett, a Korean security guard was on his route to Korea Town when we met him.
DESHAUN BENNETT – I think they are too liberal, and too mild.
HOLT – Some, like Beloved an artist from South L.A. feel the rhetoric doesn’t reflect reality.
BELOVED: I feel very safe. Here, I feel safe.
HOLT: Elizabeth Buzzini, who lives near West Hollywood is now more concerned than ever.
ELIZABETH BUZZINI: I’ve never seen it like this. [Transition]It seems they think that it is possible.
HOLT – The rise in violence and shifts in public perception have shaken southern California.
D.A. GEORGE GASCON: Look, it’s horrifying.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has to confront a disturbing reality: HOLT
Los Angeles County has been safer since your election?
GASCON: It’s a complicated question. Right? I’m not sure we’re safer than we were 20, 30 years ago, if you’re looking at what occurred in the last three or four years, then it is a higher level of insecurity today.
HOST: Gascon, riding a wave for criminal justice reform in the late 2020s, took office promising to transform America’s largest D.A.The office of the President issued major directives designed to decrease prison population and sentence lengths. They include initiatives to eliminate cash bail and the use sentencing enhancements in large part. There is also a moratorium on trying children as adults.
Gascon’s rise in violence, which started before Gascon became president, seems to have diminished that support. Homicides hit a fifteen-year record last year. Increased 54 percent from 2019.
In many places across the nation, we are seeing an increase in crime. We’re seeing progressive prosecutors like yourself under fire. Is that a true representation of progressive prosecutors as increasing crime?
GASCON – I’m sorry. California has some of the most conservative counties, with higher levels per capita violence than us. But you will never hear anyone blame those prosecutors.
HOLT. Critics accuse Gascon of allowing a rise in shootings. This includes the murders this week of two police officers. Organisers claim that the recall will be on the ballot, and has been supported by hundreds of his own lawyers.
L.A. County has been sued by at least eight D.A.s, alleging that they were subject to retaliation for criticizing Gascon’s policies.
VICTOR RODRIGUEZ (L.A. prosecutor): The dysfunction, the chaos.
HOLT: Victor Rodriguez and Maria Ramirez are two high-ranking prosecutors who have come forward to voice their concern. They emphasize that their comments are personal, and not for their office.
RODRIGUEZ: Every day, D.A.s are walking into court having to make this choice between violating policy or ethical obligation.
MARIA RAMIREZ : Reform gets a bad rap.
HOLT. Gascon refused to discuss cases in litigation but said that voters chose him to establish policy.
How does that say about your leadership if you are unable to communicate with your deputies?
GASCON: Actually to be honest, it’s complicated. It is clear that you have an extremely strong driving force, which is not only determined to take me out, but more importantly to preserve the system as it is.
HOLT: While many criminal justice experts say it’s difficult to draw direct connections to Gascon’s policies, the surge in crime echoing across the country has put intense political pressure on his reform agenda.
San Francisco voters voted earlier in the month to remove its progressive D.A. Gascon is also reversing some of his policies. This includes his prohibition on the trial of juveniles as adults and his order to obtain zero bail for nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors.
Many people believe things are getting worse. Are progressives and reformers of criminal justice going to blame if things don’t change?
GASCON: I’m very fearful that it’s happening already.
[Cuts back to live]
HOLT: Although recall organizers think they have met their goal, they continue collecting signatures in case of an emergency. It would be in November.
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