A Southern California District Attorney is running for re-election. His goal is to portray his opponent in the role of George Gascon, the top prosecutor from neighboring Los Angeles County. He is currently facing a recall effort and backlash by elected officials and victims of crime over his prosecutorial directives which critics claim have contributed to an increase in crime.
A campaign video by Todd Spitzer, Orange County District Attorney, paints Los Angeles as a dirty and crime-ridden place besieged with homelessness, while criticizing Pete Hardin, defense attorney, for being too soft on criminals.
Spitzer can be heard saying, “He’s already proclaimed exactly the same lines George Gascon,” in the 2-minute video “Gotham.” “No bail. No death penalty. No (sentencing) enhancements.”
Spitzer, amid a nasty campaign where both sides engaged in their fair amount of mudslinging has pledged to not allow coastal Orange County to become like Los Angeles County. This is despite the fact that there has been an increase in violent crime in Orange County since the COVID-19 pandemic.
His campaign prominently uses the hashtag #NoLAinOC to reinforce his point. The video begins with security footage of a smash-and grab robbery and voiceovers by former and current elected Los Angeles officials critiquing the crime uptick, Gascon and two mothers who lost their sons to murder.
One person is heard saying ” George Gascon abandoned us.” Because Todd is being pursued by another Gascon-type, it’s vital that you know this.
This footage shows Hardin being accused of sexual misconduct while he was serving as an Orange County prosecutor and Marine Corps officer. It also portrays him as the “Joker”, a character in the “Batman” superhero series. Spitzer repeatedly incited allegations against Hardin, claiming that he quit the military for adultery. According to the Orange County Register.
Refusal to admit wrongdoing
Hardin denied any wrongdoing in relation to sexual misconduct.
Hardin, a former federal prosecutor has outlined himself as a progressive and vows to fight gun violence and treat mental health and drug addiction.
He stated that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was plagued by scandals under Spitzer’s leadership.
Hardin stated that Orange County’s murder rate is at an 22-year high. It’s not surprising that Todd Spitzer spends so much time talking about another county. “Our community has seen a surge in violence since he was elected DA. Todd has been accused of sexual harassment in at least five cases, was kicked out of a case for sexual assault on victims, made racist comments while considering whether California should execute Black men, and is clearly too distracted to cover up his mistakes, retaliate against victims, and protect his friends to do his job.
“To ensure the wellbeing of our citizens, it is unacceptable to tolerate shallow rhetoric or a politician obsessed by shameless self-promotion. He said that we need safety and not soundbites.
After scandal, elected
Spitzer was a first-term DA and was elected to office after a jailhouse snitch scam that saw multiple convictions overturned. He was a county supervisor at the time and was not employed in the DA’s office.
In recent days, he’s been under fire after a Newport Beach officer accused him dropping the death penalty for a double-murder investigation in an attempt to hide racial comments made about a Black suspect who was allegedly involved in an affair with a White woman. BuzzFeed News reported. During the high-profile murder trial, he is accused of not disclosing the comment to the court.
