Malliotakis Introduces Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act, Urges DOJ to Take Action Against Rogue Prosecutors

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) last week introduced H.R.7967, the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act, legislation that would hold prosecutors accountable and create transparency by letting the public know how many cases prosecutors are declining to prosecute, the number of offenses committed by career criminals, and the number of criminals released. 

"Over the past two years, we've seen a disturbing trend in progressive district attorneys in cities across the country who are refusing to prosecute violent criminal offenders," Malliotakis said in a floor speech introducing the bill. "Look no further than my city of New York where Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg released a 'Day One' memo initially directing his staff to not prosecute certain crimes, downgrade other felony charges filed by police, and no longer seek sentences of life without parole. These policies have sent a clear message to criminals: Go ahead and break the law, because we will not enforce it." 

In 2020, police made hundreds of arrests in connection with the Defund the Police protests in New York City and Portland, Oregon, to which District Attorneys dismissed the majority of charges filed. Also in 2020, a police Corporal was killed in the line of duty by a wanted gang-banger whom the DA's office allowed to freely roam the streets, and in San Francisco, a career criminal out on parole slammed a stolen car into two women crossing the street, killing them both. Last week, San Francisco voted to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin because of his handling of rising crime across the city.

Malliotakis added: "Our nation is under attack by criminals with no regard for property and life, and rogue district attorneys who allow them to wreak havoc on our streets. Enough is enough, criminals must no longer have free reign over our major cities, we must restore law and order, and protect ourselves from the very worst in our society. Stop siding with the criminals preying on our cities and emboldening District Attorneys to lay idly by as it happens."   

For more information about the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act, click HERE.

To watch Malliotakis' remarks, click HERE.

Additionally, Malliotakis joined her Republican colleagues in writing to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding the recent trend of local district attorneys declining to prosecute crimes, seeking reduced sentencing, and offering plea agreements to career criminals.

"This abdication of professional responsibility has emboldened criminals and undermined the trust of law-abiding Americans in public institutions," the lawmakers wrote. "With crime skyrocketing and annual homicide records being broken in at least 12 major cities – many with rogue prosecutors – it’s hard not to see the link between their soft-on-crime policies and such increases. Yet instead these prosecutors are doubling down on sentencing deviations, cash bail misuse, and lackluster prosecution, to the great detriment of the victims they swore to seek justice for and the communities they swore to serve. We urge the Justice Department to take action and instruct United States Attorneys to begin charging and prosecuting federal crimes that are being ignored by states."

To view a copy of the letter, click HERE.