HE IS STILL AWAKE!
>> Brian: JUST A LITTLE WHILE
LONGER.
>> Harris: LOS ANGELES
PROGRESSIVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
GEORGE GUS COHEN IS FACING NEW
FURY FOR HIS SOFT ON CRIME
POLICY.
THIS TIME IT IS OVER THE
HANDLING OF A HIT-AND-RUN CASE
LAST SUMMER AND IT IS GETTING A
LOT OF ATTENTION AGAIN.
IT ENDED WITH A TEENAGER BEING
SENTENCED TO ONLY FIVE MONTHS IN
JUVENILE PROBATION.
A CAMP AFTER HE RAN OVER A MOM
AND HER BABY.
NOW WE’VE LEARNED THAT IT WAS
NOT THAT TEENAGER’S FIRST.
THE INCIDENT ALL CAUGHT ON VIDEO
AND A LITTLE WARNING HERE, IF
YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT, IT CAN BE
PRETTY BRUTAL AND I BELIEVE WE
HAVE IT FROM TWO OR THREE
DIFFERENT ANGLES.
YOU WILL SEE THE 16-YEAR-OLD
DRIVER IN A STOLEN CAR MOWING
DOWN THE MOM WALKING WITH HER
BABY IN A STROLLER.
THE CAR BARRELED INTO THE MOM
COME UP DOCS ARE COMPLETELY OFF
OF HER FEET, AND SHE APPEARS TO
TRY TO GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE
WAY.
THE BABY ESCAPES OUR HERMIT AND
THE MOM HAS MINOR INJURIES.
THE MOM IS TALKING AND SHE HAS
HEAR WHAT SHE IS SAYING.
SOMEONE TRIED TO KILL ME AND MY
SON AND GEORGE GUS COHEN THINKS
THAT FIVE MONTHS OF CAMP IS
SUFFICIENT PUNISHMENT.
GASCON AND HIS STAFF ARE
HIGHLIGHTING THEIR INCOMPETENCE
AND COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THEIR
VICTIMS.
SHE SPEAKS FOR A LOT OF VICTIMS.
>> Emily: SHE ALSO SPEAKS TO
THE 10-YEAR-OLD VICTIM OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT BY ANOTHER MINOR
THAT GASCON TRIED AS AN ADULT
AND SENTENCED TO A MERE TWO
YEARS AND CHILD FACILITY.
HE SAID IF WE KNEW ABOUT HER
DISREGARD FOR THE HARM SHE
CAUSED, TALKING WITH THE
PERPETRATOR COME UP WE WOULD’VE
HANDLED THE CASE DIFFERENTLY.
THE COMPLEX ISSUES OR UNUSUAL
INITIATIVE TREATED THEM THAT
WAY.
REALLY?
SIMILAR TO HAVING OF PRIOR
FAMILY PROSECUTION FOR POISONING
ANOTHER TEENAGERS DRINK.
HE CAME IN TRYING TO EMULATE A
BLANKET POLICY THAT HE WOULD NOT
TRY JUVENILES AS ADULTS.
BUT IF -- YOU CAN PROSECUTE AS
AN ADULT AND DEFENSE CAN MOVE TO
HAVE A PETITION IN JUVENILE
COURT.
AT THE TIME -- THERE WAS SUCH AN
UPROAR OUT OF IT THAT THEY SAID
FINE, I WILL REMOVE THE BLANKET
POLICY.
HE HAS NOT LEARNED HIS LESSON
EVEN THOUGH HE ASSURED THE
PUBLIC BY THAT STATEMENT IN
FEBRUARY THAT HE WOULD LEARN
FROM HIS MISTAKES AND CHANGE IN
THE FUTURE.
HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO
WATCH AS THEIR LIVES DO NOT
MATTER IN THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE HE
HOPEFULLY IS RECALLED IN FALL?
I’M WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME
THIS HAPPENS, FOR A BABY IN A
MOM, MAYBE IT WILL HAVE A
DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
>> Harris: THIS PARTICULAR
LIBERAL D.A. SAID THAT WHY THE
TEENAGER CAN GO TO WHAT IS
ESSENTIALLY SUMMER CAMP IS
BECAUSE THE MOM AND THE BABY DID
SURVIVE.
LEGALLY, I DON’T THINK THAT
STANCE.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, AND
THANK THE GOOD LORD THAT THEY
DID, BY THE GRACE OF GOD THEY
ARE OKAY, THAT MOM AND BABY.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT JUST BECAUSE
A KILLER IS INEFFICIENT AND WHAT
THEY DO, THEY GET TO GO TO
SUMMER CAMP?
SPEECH AT THE OUTCOME SHOULD NOT
JUSTIFY THE ACTION IN THE
INTENT WHICH, A KEY PART OF
WHAT EMILY JUST SAID IS THAT
THIS DRIVER SWERVED TOWARD THEM.
THE MOM TALKS ABOUT MOVING OUT
OF THE WAY AND BACKING OUT OF
THE BOY.
HE AIMED THE CAR TOWARD HIM TO
TRY AND KILL THEM.
THERE WERE DRUGS IN THE SYSTEM.
NOT TO THE POINT OF
INTOXICATION, BUT DRUGS IN THE
SYSTEM.
SUMMER CAMP IS NOT THE ANSWER.
WE ARE IN THE PRECIPICE OF THE
BIGGEST POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE
SINCE WHAT WE SAW AND VIRGINIA.
POSSIBLY TOMORROW.
TOMORROW IS THE RECALL FOR
SAN FRANCISCO’S D.A. AND AS A
"WASHINGTON POST" SAID, THIS IS
AN UPHILL BATTLE.
"THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE"
SAYS THAT IT HAS NATIONAL
IMPLICATIONS.
IF THIS D.A. IS VOTED OUT JUST
LIKE GASCON WHO HAS 500,000
SIGNATURES FOR HIS RECALL
PETITION, IF TOMORROW THAT
HAPPENED, THIS IS AN ENORMOUS
DEAL AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN UPHILL
BATTLE.
THREE POLES AND ONE SAID THAT
68%, 57%, AND THE ONLY ONE THAT
SHOWS 48%, JUST UNDER
MAJORITY, IS THE ONE
COMMISSIONED BY THE RECALL TEAM.
THAT IS INTERNAL POLLING.
WE WILL SEE THAT A POLITICAL
EARTHQUAKE COULD HAPPEN TOMORROW
TOMORROW.
>> Harris: INTERNAL POLLING
NORTH OF 45%.
>> Kennedy: 14% WERE
UNCOMMITTED AND IT STILL LOOKS
EVEN LIKE WITH THE INTERNAL
POLLING, IT’S THE BEST-CASE
SCENARIO.
IT STILL LOOKS LIKE HE’S IN VERY
DEEP TROUBLE.
>> Harris: IT IS VERY DEEP.
I WANT TO GET TO THIS.
GASCON’S OFFICE, THIS ORIGINAL
STATEMENT ON FRIDAY.
THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID.
"THE DECISIONS IN THIS CASE WERE
BASED ON FACTS AND THE LAW, THE
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AGREE WITH
THE FELONY CHARGES THAT WERE
FILED.
WE STAND BY THE PURPOSE OF
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO
REHABILITATE YOUNG PEOPLE."
HIS SPOKESPERSON ISSUED A
CORRECTION.
IT’S LIKE THE WHITE HOUSE NOW.
WE NEED TO CORRECT HER STATEMENT
FROM YESTERDAY.
L ASD WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE
DECISION ON THE FELONY CHARGE
AND THEY WERE NOT THE
INVESTIGATING AGENCY.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE COPS SAY WE
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
I’M JUST POINTING OUT THE FACTS.
>> Brian: NO KNOWS MORE ABOUT
LOS ANGELES THAN YOU AND
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GANNON
PREFERS THE BOTTOM AND OTHER
TECHNOLOGY HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY
ABILITY.
>> Harris: ARE WE BACK ON
YOGURT?
>> Brian: JUST TO SHOW THAT I
WAS BEING ATTENTION BECAUSE
KENNEDY HAS ACCUSED ME OF NOT
PAYING ATTENTION IN THE PAST.
THINGS HAVE TO GET REALLY BAD
BEFORE THEY GET BETTER.
ALMOST HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
WE ARE SEEING THEM HIT ROCK
BOTTOM AND THE SHERIFF WHO HIS
MEN IGNORED, THEY SAID THAT HEAT
SUPPORTS THE DECISIONS AND HE
SAID NO I DIDN’T.
THE WALK THAT BACK AND THAT IS
SIGNIFICANT.
IF THEY CAUGHT THIS GUY AND THIS
SKY, IT WILL BE A SIGNAL THAT WE
CAN NO LONGER HAVE THIS
PERMISSIVE CULTURE.
THAT COULD RIPPLE FOR A COPS
AGAIN.
SUCCESSFUL POLITICIANS WILL BE
TOUGH ON CRIMINALS AND FOCUS ON
THE JUVENILE.
WHAT DID WE WITNESS IN BUFFALO?
A 17-YEAR-OLD WHO SHOWED THAT HE
WAS VIOLENT AND COULD SHOOT UP A
SCHOOL.
HE IS A CLEAN RECORD AT 18.
WHAT WE SEE IN UVALDE?
A 17-YEAR-OLD WHO IS TRYING TO
BUY A GUN.
WHEN HE COMES 18, HE HAS A CLEAN
RECORD AND HE CAN GET A GUN.
THIS IS A FUTURE SCHOOL SHOOTER.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE RAISING.
LOOK AT HIS BACK ON.
HE DOES NOT DESERVE A CLEAN
RECORD, BUT HE’S ABOUT TO GET
ONE AT 18.
OUR SOCIETY NEEDS TO BE
PROTECTED BY MUTANTS LIKE --
FROM MUTANTS LIKE THIS.
>> Harris: WHY DO WE HAVE TO
HIT ROCK BOTTOM TO KNOW WHAT THE
RIGHT THING TO DO IS?
>> Kennedy: GREAT QUESTION.
THAT’S WHAT THIS WHOLE THING HAS
BEEN WITH THE ULTRA PROGRESSIVE
D.A.’S THE COUNTRY.
IT HAS BEEN AN EXPERIMENT.
WE SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN A FAILED
EXPERIMENT BECAUSE CRIME IS
GOING UP AND WE HAVE NOT
ACHIEVED THAT PRECIOUS AND
NECESSARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM THAT THE DAs SAY THEY
ARE CHAMPING.
THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEY DON’T
HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUNG
OFFENDERS.
THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THIS
JUVENILE CAMP IS GOING TO
REHABILITATE THAT PERSON AND
HE’S GOING TO COME OUT THE OTHER
SIDE A NEW REVITALIZED -- NO.
HE’S JUST BIDING HIS TIME UNTIL
HE CAN GO OUT AND COMMIT MORE
CRIMES.
IT’S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT MORE
PEOPLE IN L.A. AND L.A. COUNTY
WHO SIDE WITH THE SHERIFF, ALEX
VILLA NUEVA AND THAT IS AN
ELECTED POSITION.
HE’S A POLITICIAN BUT HE IS THE
ONLY ONE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
>> Harris: BECAUSE YOU HAVE
WITH THEIR MOST RECENTLY, I LIVE
THERE BUT IT’S BEEN MANY YEARS
AND I WAS AS YOUNG AS YOGURT
YOGURT.
WHY IS IT THAT WITH THIS SORT OF
THING, SENDING A JUVENILE, THERE
IS NOT ALSO A LOT OF DESCRIPTION
COMING ABOUT WHY THAT WOULD
WORK.
WE HAVE HIS ORIGINAL WORDS.
I’M GOING TO ASK THE TEAM IF WE
COULD FIRST HEAR WHAT GASCON
SAID ABOUT NOT GETTING THAT KID
PRISON.
COULD WE WATCH IT?
THEY ARE SAYING WE DON’T.
WHAT I’M GOING TO SAY IS THAT I
DON’T REMEMBER HIM EVER SAYING
THESE THREE THINGS ARE GOING TO
COMPLETELY CHANGE THIS KID AND
THIS DIVISION IN THIS DEPARTMENT
AND THIS INDIVIDUAL.
YOU BRING UP A BUILDER FOR POINT
BUT HOW DO WE KNOW THE CAMP IS
GOING TO WORK?
>> Kennedy: AND MORE PEOPLE
WOULD BE OPEN TO LISTENING ABOUT
IT BUT THEY KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
A VIOLENT KID WHO HAS NO REGARD
FOR HUMAN LIFE, HE’S GOING TO
PARTIALLY GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM
AND COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE
WORSE BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE HE’S
COHURTING WITH AT THE JUVENILE
CAMP.
IT’S NOT A DETERRENT AND IT’S
NOT PUNISHMENT.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM
THIS SYSTEM IS SET UP.
IT’S NOT PEOPLE WHO COMMIT
CONSENSUAL CRIMES.
THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE
INCARCERATED, BUT GASCON HAS A
COMPLETELY BACKWARDS.
TO YOUR POINT, HE DOES AS WELL.
HE WILL PROBABLY BE RECALLED
TOMORROW.
GASCON IS A FEW SIGNATURES AWAY
FROM BEING ON THE BALLOT IN THE
FALL.
>> Brian: WHAT HAPPENED TO
SCARED STRAIGHT?
IN THE 80s, THEY HAD CRIMINALS
WERE TRYING TO SCARE THE HELL OU
BEFORE THEY BECOME ADULTS.
WE SHOULD GO BACK TO METHODS
THAT WORK.
>> Harris: LIKE THE MOM WITH