House passes bill to rein in “rogue” prosecutors

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If HB 17 passes both chambers, it would tweak the definition of “official misconduct” to include adopting or enforcing a “policy of categorically refusing to prosecute specific criminal offenses under state law,” with certain exceptions. “We are very focused on holding accountable people who commit acts of violence in our community,” Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “Pulling resources away from that to focus on this kind of case would be reckless and endanger the safety of our community.”

“If a prosecutor can’t afford and doesn’t have the bandwidth and doesn’t have the prosecutorial wherewithal because of limited resources, that’s not a policy,” Canales said. “That’s reality.”

A previous tweet incorrectly stated that prosecutors in large Texas cities have said they will not pursue election fraud cases. They have taken a stance against pursuing criminal cases to enforce the state’s abortion laws, not election fraud laws. The story has been updated.

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House advances bill to rein in “rogue” prosecutors“It is very clear what Texans are saying: They want to choose who their district attorney is. What they don't want is a grandstanding legislator to say ‘no, we are not going to allow you to have this … voice.’”
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House advances bill to rein in “rogue” prosecutorsLocally elected prosecutors who do not enforce certain laws could be removed from office under a bill the Texas House preliminarily approved. Elected prosecutors in Texas’ large counties have said they will not prosecute abortion or election fraud cases.
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House advances bill to rein in “rogue” prosecutorsThe legislation is in response to elected prosecutors in Texas’ large, left-leaning counties who have said they will not prosecute abortion or election fraud cases.
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