LA wants to recall its most progressive prosecutor. Inside the DA’s hostile office
THE PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: GEORGE GASCÓN — Gascón was elected district
attorney of Los Angeles County in November 2020 with 54% of the vote.
“I won handsomely,” he reminisced Wednesday during a 90-minute
conversation at the Hall of Justice in downtown L.A. “I got over 2
million votes.”
It was a big victory for criminal justice reformers: the leading
progressive prosecutor in the country taking over the movement’s top
target, the largest county in the country and one that has long been
hostile to change.
California makes it relatively easy to recall an elected official. It’s
been part of the state constitution since 1911.
There was talk of recalling Gascón as soon as he was sworn in. And those
calls were coming from inside the Hall of Justice, where many of his
deputy district attorneys revolted against the changes.
“The week that I got sworn in, they started talking about recalling me,”
Gascón said. “And they had to be told you have to wait at least 90
days.”
Voters will know by August 17 whether a recall of Gascón will be on the
November ballot.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
George Gascón is the District Attorney of Los Angeles County.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Brook Hayes is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Adam Allington is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is executive producer for POLITICO audio.
attorney of Los Angeles County in November 2020 with 54% of the vote.
“I won handsomely,” he reminisced Wednesday during a 90-minute
conversation at the Hall of Justice in downtown L.A. “I got over 2
million votes.”
It was a big victory for criminal justice reformers: the leading
progressive prosecutor in the country taking over the movement’s top
target, the largest county in the country and one that has long been
hostile to change.
California makes it relatively easy to recall an elected official. It’s
been part of the state constitution since 1911.
There was talk of recalling Gascón as soon as he was sworn in. And those
calls were coming from inside the Hall of Justice, where many of his
deputy district attorneys revolted against the changes.
“The week that I got sworn in, they started talking about recalling me,”
Gascón said. “And they had to be told you have to wait at least 90
days.”
Voters will know by August 17 whether a recall of Gascón will be on the
November ballot.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
George Gascón is the District Attorney of Los Angeles County.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Brook Hayes is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Adam Allington is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is executive producer for POLITICO audio.
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