Philly Leader

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner faces the prospect of impeachment if the Pennsylvania House Republican leadership consents to a request from Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Centre) to begin proceedings. 

In a Jan. 18 letter to House leaders, Corman blames a spike in violent crime in Philadelphia on Krasner’s policies that fail to “hold criminals accountable.”

“Since 2015, just 21% of shootings in the city have led to criminal charges,” Corman, a candidate for governor, wrote in the letter. “Of that 21%, less than one-tenth of the cases have resulted in a conviction.”

Krasner, who was re-elected in November, is one of 19 big city DAs on a list compiled by the Capital Research Center (CRC), who have received hefty campaign donations from progressive billionaire George Soros. Others include Cook County’s (Chicago) Kim Foxx, Los Angeles County’s George Gascon and New York’s Alvin Bragg.

The Capital Research Center is a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

“The Patterns within the list are clear," CRC's Parker Thayer wrote. "Skyrocketing violent crime, countless murders, little to no accountability, limited prosecutorial experience, a proclivity for scandal and a tendency to unfairly prosecute political adversaries. George Soros certainly has a type.”

The CRC found that Krasner has received more than $2 million from Soros, funds funneled through the Pennsylvania Justice and Public Safety PAC and the Philadelphia Justice and Public Safety PAC. In 2021 Krasner received $259,000 directly from Soros.

“Under Krasner’s watch, crime rates have soared, and in 2021, Philadelphia became the murder capital of the United States with the highest per capita homicide rate of the country’s 10 largest cities,” Thayer wrote.

Even elected officials and their family members have been victims of Philadelphia crime. Last year the cousin of state Sen. Sharif Street’s (D-Philadelphia) was murdered, and his legislative office was struck by bullets. Last month U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) was carjacked at gunpoint, Corman noted in his letter.

Corman spokesman Jason Thompson told the Philly Leader that House Republican leaders have yet to respond to Corman’s request. But House GOP spokesman, Jason Gottesman, was quoted in PennLive as saying that they “are glad to see the Senate join us in our efforts to hold Larry Krasner responsible for his abysmal failure to enforce the law.”

Thayer told the Philly Leader that he knows of no other state lawmakers who have taken actions against activist DAs. He noted, however, that Steve Descanso (Fairfax County, Virginia), Parisa Denhgani-Tafti (Arlington County, Virginia) and Buta Biberaj (Loudon County, Virginia) all “face strong recall petitions.”

“Based on the way the 2021 elections in Virginia went, I’d wager they have a good chance of succeeding,” Thayer said.

In San Francisco, Chesa Boudin also faces a recall attempt. Baltimore’s Marilyn Mosby was recently indicted on perjury and other charges. And ethics complaints have been filed against Cook County's Foxx, in part over her handling of the Jussie Smollett case.