Pennsylvania Republicans Start Impeachment Bid Against Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks to a reporter at the election party of public defender Tiffany Caban moments before she claimed victory the Queens District Attorney Democratic Primary election, in the Queens borough of New York City, on June 25, 2019. Scott Heins/Getty Images

Republicans in the Pennsylvania House filed articles of impeachment on Oct. 26 against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, saying he should be removed from office for embracing left-wing policies that have fueled rampant homicide and violent crime numbers.

“I recognize the unprecedented nature of what must be done and am confident our members are up to the task,” Republican Rep. Martina White said at a news conference in announcing the articles of impeachment, according to NBC News.

GOP lawmakers further accused Krasner of embracing a “progressive criminal justice philosophy that prioritizes criminals over victims” that has led to a record number of homicides in Philadelphia, PhillyVoice reported.

“These are the consequences of District Attorney Larry Krasner’s failure in office,” White said, adding that “no public official is above the law.”

“There should be a war on crime. But due to the failed vision and his idea of criminal justice, crime is allowed to wage war on the good people and the great beautiful city of Philadelphia,” Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff said in reference to Krasner.

Pennsylvania’s Constitution gives the state Legislature the capacity to impeach “all civil officers” for “any misbehavior in office or of any infamous crime.” While Krasner and others have said that he hasn’t committed a crime or engaged in corruption, Republicans say that his failure to enforce laws is adequate enough for the articles of impeachment.

Surging Crime Rate

Like a number of other U.S. cities, Philadelphia has dealt with a significant increase in violent crime since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. There were about 562 homicides recorded in Philadelphia last year, hitting an all-time high for the city. As of this month, the city has recorded 438 homicides in 2022, according to media reports.

Krasner has often defended his office’s conviction rate and asserts that the impeachment attempt is connected to prior Republican efforts to overturn elections.

“Pennsylvania House Republicans want to distract you from their decades of failed governance that have led to greater economic inequality and the current crisis of gun violence as they have encouraged the flooding of our communities with deadly firearms,” Krasner said in June, while accusing GOP lawmakers of engaging in a “coup” against him.

Police tape hangs from a barricade at the corner of South and 3rd Streets the day after three people were killed and 11 others wounded by gunfire within a few blocks in Philadelphia, on June 5, 2022. Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP via Getty Images

Last week, Krasner said that recent legislative actions against him are politically motivated and designed to sway the 2022 midterms in Pennsylvania, where a Senate and gubernatorial seat are up for grabs.

“You have never specified what your basis of impeachment is,” he said in a statement on Oct. 21. “There has been no suggestion of criminal conduct or corruption of any kind. You have never indicated to me or to anyone why I should be impeached, but there is little doubt the Select Committee intends to recommend my impeachment. ... Rep. Ecker, one of the members of this committee, even publicly called for my impeachment before the Committee was formed.”

Records show that when Krasner ran for Philadelphia district attorney in 2017, he took in nearly $1.7 million from the Philadelphia Justice and Public Safety PAC, a group linked to progressive billionaire investor George Soros.

Krasner’s office, which hasn’t publicly responded to the GOP’s announcement, also didn’t respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.