PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The state House select committee investigating Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office has begun two days of hearings at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. The first day was focused on the families of victims of violent crime.
Committee chair, Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester County, addressed accusations from Larry Krasner and his supporters who say the committee’s investigation is a witch hunt set up to take down a progressive prosecutor.
“The committee will act thoughtfully with diligence, discretion and fidelity,” Lawrence said. “We will not be baited into the ditch of pure political circus. Others may choose that tactic. We will not.”
Malikah Womack's daughter, Jada Hellams, was stabbed and killed in Olney.
“I don't ever hear them talking about the victims. Why's nobody here for us? Why nobody wants to meet with us? Why?” Womack said.
Jailene Holton was struck and killed by a bullet at a Northeast Philly bar in an incident where a man, angry he couldn’t play pool, fired 15 shots indiscriminately at the front door.
“Krasner's office has failed us, because they're not doing their jobs,” said Holton’s grandmother, Karen McConnell. “They're letting these criminals out. They're using white gloves to pacify them because ‘it's not fair’ and all that. But the innocent people are the ones that are paying the price.”
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McConnell says Anthony Nelson, the man accused of shooting her granddaughter, should have been behind bars instead of firing that gun based on a prior rape case that she says was mishandled by inexperienced assistant district attorneys hired by Krasner.
“They're just being handed cases, and they're just lost. If he was convicted of the rape charge, which he should have been, my granddaughter would be alive today,” McConnell said.
As part of the investigation, the committee is looking at how Krasner’s office is spending public funds that are supposed to go to victims’ services, law enforcement and prosecution.
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In a statement after the hearing, Krasner said he would welcome the opportunity to testify directly before the committee.
“The trauma and grief expressed by co-victims and survivors at today’s hearing, many of whom my staff and I have personally met, was heartbreaking," said Krasner, adding that his staff works "tirelessly to provide services and support for co-victims and survivors."
Krasner has argued the committee is purely political. And in its attempt to remove him from office, he said, the committee is violating the right of Philadelphia residents to elect their own leaders.
The impeachment process began in June, sponsored by three GOP state reps from Western Pennsylvania, and has moved forward mostly along party lines. Earlier this month, a tussle over the subpoena power of the committee pushed 10 Philadelphia Democrats to side with Republicans seeking documents from Krasner.
He argues releasing that information would violate state grand jury laws and procedures.
Krasner was first elected in 2017 and won a second term in 2021 in a landslide victory.