Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón claimed Wednesday that many DA's were "bullied" into supporting the ultimately failed recall.
Gascón made the comments during an interview with FOX 11 Los Angeles, two days after the recall attempt failed because organizers were unable to collect enough valid signatures for the proposal to be put on a ballot.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon on Tuesday defended his policies amid criticism following reports that the deceased suspect accused of killing two El Monte, California, police officers, was out on probation. (KCBS-TV)
Gascón told FOX 11 that even though nearly 98% of L.A. prosecutors were ostensibly in favor of the recall, many of them were "badgered" and bullied."
"Even when there was a vote of no confidence I happen to know a lot of people called me and reached out to me and said they were being badgered. If they had not responded they were being singled out they were being harassed in the workplace," Gascón said.
Asked to clarify that the deputy district attorneys (DDA’s) were being "bullied," Gascón said, "Some people said as much."
Jon Hatami, Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, pushed back against Gascón's claims, "calling them completely false."
"The vote of the DDA’s to support or not support his recall was done over the internet, individually and confidentially. There was no way anyone would know how anyone else voted, where they voted, when they voted, or even if they did or didn’t vote," Hatami told Fox News in a statement.
"George is completely embarrassed by the vote and he lacks the ability to lead this office by example," he said. "He continues to lie, gaslight and deflect from his failed and dangerous policies which have only made Los Angeles less safe. He knows it. His DDA’s know it. And the public knows it."
District Attorney George Gascon speaks during a press conference at Alamo Square Park about a new bill to close a loophole in prosecuting automobile break-ins on Monday, November 26, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. ( Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Another LA County Deputy District Attorney Julianne Walker, called Gascón’s claims "disingenuous."
"Most people in this office, especially less senior deputies, are afraid of retaliation from Gascon and his public defender cronies that make up his loyal administration," Walker told Fox News.
"Senior DDAs were more inclined not only to participate in the recall, but also encourage others to do so. The senior DDAs that are not involved in the recall seem to be more concerned about acquiring and keeping their supervisory jobs," she said. "A sad commentary when so much is at stake for LA County’s public safety, victims and their families, all of which Gascon has abandoned in favor of protecting criminals and helping them obtain early release."
Another LA Deputy District Attorney, John Lewin, accused Gascón of not being honest.
"There are statements that George Gascón has made that are factually inaccurate. This is a statement that is a straight lie. The voting was done absolutely anonymously. There is no way for anybody to know how anybody else voted for that reason," Lewin told Fox News in a statement. "So, the idea that people were bullied into voting against him, when their vote was completely anonymous, is just a lie. And I would ask George Gascon that if he has such evidence – which he couldn’t have – what is it? I won’t hold my breath for a response."
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It was the second attempt to qualify a recall election that could remove Gascón, after an initial attempt failed last year. In a tweet, Gascón wrote that he was "grateful to move forward from this attempted political power grab."
"My primary focus has been & will always be keeping us safe & creating a more equitable justice system for all," he wrote.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announces charges for a woman who killed several people in a car crash. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Recall organizers needed to gather nearly 570,000 valid petition signatures to schedule an election. But county officials found only about 520,000 were valid, well below the threshold, after disqualifying nearly 200,000 signatures turned in.
Gascón, a former San Francisco police chief who then became DA in that city, won office in Los Angeles in November 2020 as part of a wave of progressive prosecutors elected nationwide.
He ran on a criminal justice reform platform after a summer of unrest following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Los Angeles is a heavily Democratic city known for its progressive politics, but Gascón faced criticism from business leaders and prosecutors in his own office for policies that they saw as ineffective to stem rising crime. His moves to sharply restrict when prosecutors can try juveniles as adults or seek life sentences angered victims-rights groups.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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