House Begins Impeachment Process of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner
HARRISBURG – On Monday, Reps. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland) and Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) announced they are starting the process of impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been nearly 1,000 people injured or killed by gun violence in Philadelphia with over 220 people murdered in the city.
The June 5th South Street shooting underscored the need to take immediate action to ensure the district attorney is enforcing the law in Philadelphia.
The three members said they are, as of today, circulating a co-sponsorship memo for supporters of Articles of Impeachment they hope to have completed in the near future.
“We did not arrive at this decision lightly or easily. In fact, we are taking this action after we have taken significant steps to pass legislation that addresses violent crime in Philadelphia by ensuring our current laws are enforced,” said Kail. “We are starting this process now because the unchecked violent crime in Philadelphia has reached a breaking point due to the willful refusal by District Attorney Krasner to enforce existing laws.”
Ecker detailed Krasner’s persistent dereliction of duty in willfully refusing to enforce current criminal laws already on the books in Pennsylvania that are designed to keep communities safe.
“Unfortunately for the people of Philadelphia, and the people of Pennsylvania at large, the problem of violent crime in Philadelphia has reached a point that demands this action be taken,” he said. “Taking this step today and undertaking this process continues what we have been doing and what we need to do to combat violence and crime here in Pennsylvania – ensure the laws already on the books are enforced.”
O’Neal explained that what happens in Philadelphia, especially relative to the issue of violent crime, is ultimately a statewide problem.
“Across the country, people are standing up to unchecked and uncontrolled violence and lawlessness allowed because of radical politicians in district attorneys’ offices, like Larry Krasner,” he said. “Just last week, city businesses said they are thinking of relocating because of spikes in crime. Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s major economic engine, a tourist attraction, and the birthplace of our freedoms. If unchecked crime is keeping businesses and tourists from visiting and locating in Philadelphia, it impacts Pennsylvania as a whole.”
To hear from the people of Pennsylvania who have been impacted by the District Attorney’s actions, there is a publicly accessible website where people can submit their stories or share information: www.stopkrasner.com.
Once the Articles of Impeachment are introduced, they will then be referred to committee. Once the committee approves them, the Articles of Impeachment can be considered by the full House of Representatives. If approved by the House, there will be a trial in the Senate to determine whether the impeached official should be removed from office.
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