Latest news with #Republican-turned-Independent
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
LA County DA Nathan Hochman promises crackdown on illegal immigrants: ‘The fun is over'
Tough-on-crime Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is doubling down on border crossings and vowed that criminals will now be held 'fully accountable for their illegal actions.' Hochman, a Republican-turned-Independent, defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón by a 20-point margin. Advertisement Gascón was considered by many voters to be soft on crime. 'I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct,' Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday. 'Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions,' he continued.' Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and lifelong Los Angeles resident, campaigned as a 'hard middle' candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the 'public safety failure' of Gascón's liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. Advertisement 3 Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman speaks to reporters outside of an LA courthouse on May 9, 2025. Getty Images He also previously served as the president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and accused Gascón of 'catastrophic incompetence' on the campaign trail and vowed to restore order and common sense. While in office, Gascón survived two recall attempts as voters voiced concern over his policies. He also co-authored the infamous Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen were under $950, and reclassified some felony drug offenses as misdemeanors. Advertisement 3 Mexican national Manuel Seberiano Garcia-Muñoz was arrested in Los Angeles for illegally re-entering the US. HSILosAngeles/X 3 Jaime Gonzalez Alvarez, a suspected member fo the Citron Street gang was arrested in Los Angeles for illegally being in the US. HSILosAngeles/X Despite political differences between voters, public safety is a crossover issue, said Hochman. 'I spoke to ultra-left liberals, independents and conservative Republicans. And it turns out that even though they don't agree on much, they do agree that making sure that the district attorney prioritizes their safety and implements policies that will hold criminals accountable for their actions in a smart and proportional manner really matters,' he said.
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Trump drops order against law firm after it pledges $40 million in legal services
Trump drops order against law firm after it pledges $40 million in legal services Show Caption Hide Caption Protests erupt over President Donald Trump's policies Demonstrators across the U.S. protested President Donald Trump's executive actions at state capitals nationwide. President Donald Trump agreed to withdraw an executive order targeting law firm Paul Weiss' contracts and employee security clearances in exchange for a series of commitments from the firm, including dedicating $40 million of free legal services to "mutually agreed projects," Trump announced. The March 14 executive order commanded agency heads to suspend security clearances for the firm's lawyers and threatened to snatch away government contracts for firm clients. Paul Weiss is the third law firm targeted by Trump since late February. The pattern has sparked concerns among free speech advocates and legal observers about the independence of law firms under the new administration. For some, Paul Weiss' agreement, announced late Thursday in a Trump post on Truth Social, heightened those concerns. "This Paul Weiss capitulation is the most disgraceful action by a major law firm in my lifetime, so appalling that I couldn't believe it at first," posted lawyer George Conway, a prominent Republican-turned-Independent Trump critic, on X. Why executive order threatened Paul Weiss business In targeting Paul Weiss, the March 14 executive order cited its former hire of ex-New York prosecutor Mark Pomerantz, who wrote in a letter published in the New York Times in 2022 that Trump was "guilty of numerous felony violations." The letter was written before Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured an indictment – and later a conviction – against Trump on charges of falsifying business records. Trump has appealed the conviction. 'The President is agreeing to this action in light of a meeting with Paul, Weiss Chairman, Brad Karp, during which Mr. Karp acknowledged the wrongdoing of former Paul, Weiss partner, Mark Pomerantz, the grave dangers of Weaponization, and the vital need to restore our System of Justice," a White House statement accompanying Trump's Thursday announcement said. The executive order marked a significant potential threat to the firm's business. Trump ordered agency heads to require government contractors to disclose any business they do with Paul Weiss and whether that business is related to the contract's subject – suggesting the administration may cancel contracts for some of Weiss' clients, not just any direct contracts with the firm. Other firm clients or potential clients may have also feared an association with the firm would bring them in the government's crosshairs. One client of the firm, former legal executive of Cognizant Technology Solutions Steven Schwartz, decided to terminate the firm as defense legal counsel due to the executive order, the firm said in a Wednesday court filing. Pattern of law firm targeting Trump also suspended security clearances on Feb. 25 for lawyers at Covington & Burling who helped former special counsel Jack Smith. Smith secured two indictments against Trump but dropped the charges after Trump won the 2024 election. In a March 6 executive order, Trump targeted security clearances and contracts for law firm Perkins Coie, which has filed a lawsuit alleging the executive order is unconstitutional. A Washington, D.C. federal judge issued a temporary restraining order March 12 halting several restrictions in the order. The executive orders targeting Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss also stated that the administration objected to what it described as diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the firms. Trump suggested Paul Weiss acceded to the administration's demands on that front as part of its agreement. "Paul, Weiss affirms its commitment to merit-based hiring, promotion, and retention, and will not adopt, use, or pursue any DEI policies," according to Trump's announcement. "As part of its commitment, it will engage experts, to be mutually agreed upon within 14 days, to conduct a comprehensive audit of all of its employment practices." A spokesperson for Paul Weiss didn't immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. According to Trump's Truth Social post, Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp said of the agreement, 'We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss. We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration.'
