Newsom Won’t Make Decision on Menendez Brothers’ Clemency Until Prosecutor Review Case Arrives

Governor of California on Monday, November 18 Gavin Newsom He said he would delay a decision on possible pardons for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were both sentenced to life in prison for the shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, until the Los Angeles County District Attorney reviewed the case.

Current DA, George GasconHaving lost his re-election bid against Nathan Hochman in November, he strongly supported the brothers’ pardon bid. In October, Gascón said his office would ask a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. Getting angry at Lyle and Erik 50 years to life in prison, which would potentially allow the brothers to be released on parole.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Newsom’s office said: “The Governor respects the District Attorney’s role in the administration of justice and recognizes that voters appointed District Attorney Hochman to carry out this responsibility. The Governor will defer to this duty” without issuing any pardons. first to the elected prosecutor’s review and analysis of the Menendez case.”

Hochman, a former federal prosecutor who takes office in December, said in a statement that he plans to “comprehensively review the facts and laws of the Menendez case, including review of secret prison files, transcripts from two trials and numerous exhibits.” as well as meeting with prosecutors, defense attorneys, and victim family members.” New York Times.

Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21 when they shot and killed their parents with a 12-gauge shotgun in the study room of their home in Beverly Hills, California, on August 20, 1989.

The brothers claimed that the murders followed Jose, the chief operating officer of RCA Records. sexually abused them Abuse they claim was ignored by their mother, a former pageant queen, for years.

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But authorities said the two brothers were motivated by greed, citing lavish spending sprees that included expensive watches, cars and tennis lessons. The two brothers continued after the murders.

In 1996, three years after their first trial deadlocked, the brothers were convicted of first-degree murder of their parents and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Efforts to free the brothers gained traction in 2023, when the couple’s attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. new evidence The case also included a newly discovered letter from Erik to his cousin, Andy Cano, describing his father’s alleged sexual abuse in the months before the murders.

On Thursday, October 24, Gascón formally recommended and explained his reasoning that each of the brothers be sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

“We are very confident that not only have the brothers been rehabilitated and will be safe to reintegrate into our society, but they have also paid their dues,” Gascón said, adding that they are working “to improve their living conditions” in prison. the lives of so many others.”

He later announced his support for the amnesty proposal on October 30.

“I strongly support the pardon of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole,” Gascón wrote in an op-ed. Press release. “They served for 34 years respectively and continued their education, working to create new programs to support the rehabilitation of their fellow inmates.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to: rainn.org.