Virginia’s new AG has an idea for dealing with those Soros DAs
In a statement given to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Victoria LaCivita, a spokesperson for [AG] Miyares, defended the move, saying, “During the campaign, it was made clear that now-Attorney General-elect Miyares and Attorney General Herring have very different visions for the office.”
“We are restructuring the office, as every incoming AG has done in the past,” Civita added.
As a candidate, Miyares had stated that “George Soros-backed Commonwealth’s attorneys are not doing their jobs,” and he promised to prosecute crimes that progressive attorneys had ignored…
As Attorney General-elect, Miyares also announced that he would be pursuing legislation under Governor Glen Youngkin (R) that “would essentially say, if the chief law enforcement officer in a jurisdiction – either the chief of police or the sheriff – makes a request because a commonwealth’s attorney is not doing their job, then I’m going to do their job for them.”
“I’m thinking specifically, some of the so-called ‘social justice’ commonwealth’s attorneys that have been elected particularly in Northern Virginia. We’re obviously aware of some pretty horrific cases,” he added.
So both Miyares – described as “the first statewide elected Latino in Virginia’s history” – and Youngkin are not messing around when it comes to their campaign promises. This seems to be a potentially viable way to deal with Soros DAs who decide to allow criminals to flourish. There are issues of jurisdiction, I suppose – can the state AG override the decisions of the locally elected DAs? My guess is that the answer is “yes,” as long as legislation empowers them to do so and the head of police in that jurisdiction makes such a request. It’s a creative solution.
Let us hope that it works well in Virginia, but in New York (“Tish” James) and in Minnesota ( K Ellison), to name but two states, the AGs are so unspeakably dreadful that no justice is to be expected, while the voters in LA and NYC have chosen such odious DAs that it would be impossible to imagine anyone less qualified to enforce the rule of law. One may hope for the best while still expecting the worst.
Shouldn’t we be calling these moral perverts ‘”Biden”/Soros DAs’?
Wishing the new governor of Virginia and his administration—particularly his state attorney and his “white supremacist” Lt. Governor—much success.
Maybe this is the way the Augean Stables have to be cleaned up—state by state.
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And from the never-say-die department:
“Recent breakthroughs in 2020 election probes undercut narrative that legal avenues are exhausted”
https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/despite-claims-2020-election-legal-remedies-being-exhausted-audits-cases-find
Slow and steady wins the race?
(Maybe, maybe not: but the Democrats sure are panicking…)
I read about this yesterday, and I’m just not sure this is a good idea in the long run. Generally, I oppose the notion of giving to more centralized governments authority over things best handled at the local level. I see this as something that could be abused by left wing AGs.
@Barry Meislan
Agreed but don’t leave out other Democrats. We need to tie all Democrats to the unlikable leaders of their party. When ever you talk about a bad policy or outcome caused by any Democrat it should be tied to not only the local DA or AG etc. but also to the entire party. They are all the same and people need to be reminded of that.
Leland:
True. But perhaps the limitation that the police chief must make the request would act as a check on that.
Leland: In Virginia, the Commonwealth’s Attorneys are chosen in local elections. George Soros makes large donations to Commonwealth Attorney candidates whom he favors, and they often win. Mr. Soros does not live in any of those localities.
Leland @ 5:16: “…I see this as something that could be abused by left wing AGs.” True enough. But aren’t they already committing abuse, and proud of it?
This may not be the optimal solution –which would be for the DA’s to DO THE DAMN JOB– but it’s (a) constructive and could help guard against bigger abuses; (b) a prod to the DA’s to (see above) DO THE DAMN JOB; and (c) if it provokes howls of outrage, good, let’s have an open debate. I doubt the Progs want that.
I thought this guy was all talk. Smart, really. Got to enjoy playing Cassandra and now get to enjoy watching him kick heads.
So… When does the show start?
I understand Leland’s concern, but there has to be push back. We are already seeing our once great Cities becoming third world dystopias. Virginia is the definition of ‘hope’.
Too bad they can’t legislate impeachment procedures, to be carried out at the state level on local jurisdictions that can show cause when an AG is choosing to not prosecute certain crimes. You could make them with an expiration date so that future elected administrations would have to do it all over again if they wanted the option. But alas, The Democrats still control the Senate there. I think the new AG will find it difficult.
Sure sounds more and more like this everyday…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
“George Soros makes large donations to Commonwealth Attorney candidates whom he favors, and they often win. Mr. Soros does not live in any of those localities.” CapnRusty
Just off the top of my head; how about passing a Constitutional amendment that donors can only donate to electoral parties in the localities in which they reside more than 50% of the time?
Politics at the local and State level should not be influenced by outside interests.
neo, thanks for the reminder about the request to intervene. It is at least one check/barrier to abuse. What Aggie said is the optimal approach, but it is also a bit pollyannish that a) it would happen and b) wouldn’t get abused as well. Still, the issue to me is the DA failing to uphold the laws. There is a remedy for this. I understand prosecutorial discretion, but outright dictates of “I will not prosecute these duly created laws” is itself a violation of our rights as citizens to create laws and have officials carry them out.
I’m happy that most people understand my ideal view. It isn’t my pragmatic sense, as I do think criminals need to be taken off the street and soon. The alternative to doing nothing is already happening. The murder rate is climbing and citizens are more likely to be more violent in response to any infraction against them. These DA’s are making it more dangerous for everyone including the criminals.
I simply ran out of time to compose my previous post (and probably had too much time to write one out this time).
Voters of Virginia elect: a white governor, a black lieutenant governor, and an hispanic attorney general… RACISTS!!!!!
I’ve read the CA Government Code.
The AG here in CA has the right to take over any investigation or prosecution in the state, no questions asked.
I had assumed it was similar in the other 49 states, but I guess I was wrong.
not_a_lawyer
Geoffrey Britain on January 19, 2022 at 7:22 pm said:
“Politics at the local and State level should not be influenced by outside interests.”
Concur 100%, but how do we get around the Citizens United PAC vs. free speech case? And of course outside interests means money and campaign resources, not ideas, policy positions, or legislation language from other jurisdictions, where such impact might in fact be beneficial, or not.
Similarly, legislation should apply equally to the legislators as to everyone else. And ditto for judges and their court rulings, although that is probably less of an issue.
But we still have the recent discussions of whether congress critters can invest in the stock market, or how we should curtail their advanced or privileged knowledge. As a minimum they probably should be forced, as public servants, to announce their plans 24 to 48 hours prior to making them, to remove their prior knowledge advantage. But for some of these very wealthy people (such as Trump), I suspect there are great difficulties in converting that wealth into blind trusts, etc. without decimating that level of wealth as a result.
I welcome comments about this issue.
Apropos to #1 in today’s Roundup, couldn’t a Class Action Suit be filed on behalf of those who lost property and loved ones due to the refusal of the DAs and authorities to execute their duties? Giving the order for the police to stand down and to turn over portions of cities to rioters defended only by citizen vigilantes is insane. Heads should roll for this malfeasance. Perhaps Cornhead or one of our legal minded resident scholars could comment. What are the penalties for non performance of duty?
R2L @ 11:41 pm,
The way you get around outside influence is you publicize it. Local folks typically are suspicious of carpetbaggers. Run ads. Make speeches. Go door to door.
R2L,
You’re absolutely right about the complications involved and I did say that was just off the top of my head. A reactive comment made out of frustration.
‘Band-Aids’ can’t correct an underlying condition. President Adams had the right of it, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
We are, at the least upon the precipice of societal dissolution and arguably past the point where our Constitution is sufficient protection from the forces that assault it.
Leaving us perilously close to a time when only “politics by other means” will suffice.
Rufus,
Certainly that should be done, provided that resources allow. I’m a bit doubtful however that such measures can successfully compete with the cacophony of ‘voices’ that assault the public in every minute of every hour.
Getting rid of outside influence is a very good idea, and legislation should be enacted to do this, if possible. But doesn’t that just mean that Soros, et al, simply needs to take the extra step of funneling all this money through local groups, or even individuals. I don’t know if such groups are required by law to disclose their donations.
I think the larger picture is that the Democrats are becoming increasingly desperate, and increasingly willing to let their masks slips. We need to take every advantage of this.
Governor Youngkin seems to understand that it’s very likely that he will be the last Republican governor in the foreseeable future if he doesn’t make a big splash and do a phenomenal job. And he’s gotten off to a very good start.
With any luck, and his continuing hard work, his term will be followed by a term of his winsome lieutenant, or his bold AG.
Very interesting. Of course it could and would be misued by Democrats. But overall, a more aggressive approach to crime, et al may be needed than that provided by go along/get along Republicans.