Justice Department launches civil rights probe into prosecutor in Virginia
Federal officials are reviewing whether Descano’s office gave undocumented defendants preferential plea deals, a probe that could lead to settlement reforms.
- On Wednesday, the Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, examining whether his office's policies unlawfully discriminated by "offering preferential treatment" to undocumented immigrants in criminal cases.
- Federal investigators are scrutinizing a December 2020 policy issued by Descano's office instructing assistant prosecutors to consider "collateral immigration consequences" when determining charging decisions and plea agreements.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the inquiry will determine if the prosecutor is "putting the community at risk" by violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Safe Streets Act.
- Officials emphasized the investigation is in its early stages with no final conclusions reached; Descano defended his policies on social media as "fair, legal, and reflect the values of my community."
- This scrutiny follows months of criticism regarding Descano's handling of repeat offenders, and he is scheduled to testify next week before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Dept. of Justice investigating Fairfax County’s top attorney over handling of cases involving immigrants
The Department of Justice announced Wednesday it was initiating an investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano over his office’s handling of cases involving undocumented immigrants. In a letter to Descano, Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ is investigating whether his office violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Safe Streets Act, which both “prohibit recipients o…
The Epoch Times
Conservative AngleJustice Department Launches Investigation Into Fairfax Attorney Over Plea Bargains, Sentencing
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation of the sentencing and plea bargain standards used by Fairfax County, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano. The DOJ wants to probe whether Descano’s office has violated Title VI the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or the Safe Streets Act by “discriminating based upon race, color, or national origin.” “Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow local prosecutors t…
DOJ Launches Investigation of Va. Atty. Descano’s Preferential Treatment of Criminal Illegals
Infamous for his soft-on-illegal-immigrant-crime policies, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano is now under federal investigation for suspected discriminatory treatment of cases, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday.
DOJ investigates Virginia prosecutor over alleged illegal immigrant favoritism
The Justice Department on Wednesday opened a civil rights investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano over allegations his office gave preferential treatment to illegal immigrants in criminal cases, intensifying scrutiny of one of Virginia’s most prominent progressive prosecutors. In a letter sent Wednesday, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is examining whether Descano’s …
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