House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) abruptly pulled his endorsement of Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey, a fellow Democrat running for relection.
Schiff endorsed Lacey, who has been in office for two terms, last year.
“This is a rare time in our nations history. We have a responsibility to make profound changes to end systemic racism & reform criminal justice,” Schiff said in a statement.
Both the federal lawmaker and, Laura Friedman, a state assemblywoman, “no longer feel our endorsement of Jackie Lacey a year ago has the same meaning,” Schiff added. “We have decided to withdraw it.”
Friedman, a Democrat, issued a similar statement.
Another Democrat, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, said last week it “may be” time for a new district attorney.
Lacey, 63, reacted to the withdrawn endorsements by defending herself.
“As the first African American woman to hold the LA County D.A.s office, I am proud of my record of taking on systemic racism and reforming criminal justice—from bail reform, to reducing juvenile cases by nearly 50%, to increasing our offices focus on mental health treatment instead of incarceration,” she said in a statement sent to news outlets.
“I am singularly focused on doing the work of the people of L.A. County during this time of crisis.”
Lacey has faced criticism over her refusal to charge police officers with misconduct for on-duty shootings. Dozens of protesters gathered outside her house over the weekend to call for charges against the officers who shot Alex Flores in 2019 and Daniel Hernandez this year.
“Everybody is utterly shocked when they think about the number of people who have been killed by police or while in custody since Lacey took office,” Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matters Los Angeles chapter, told the Associated Press at the protest.
Former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, 66, is challenging Lacey. The CRead More From Source
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