House Committee Report Falls Short Of Calling For Krasner Impeachment

PHILADELPHIA — State lawmakers who have accused Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner of being derelict in his duties to uphold the law fell short of calling for his impeachment Monday.

The House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order was formed earlier this year to investigate Krasner's administration as crime pervades the city.

Committee Chair Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster) released a statement after the Select Committee unanimously approved its Second Interim Report to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

“This report paints a scathing picture of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s utter failure to uphold law and order in the city of Philadelphia, he said. "Extensively researched, the report is filled with first-hand accounts of Krasner’s poor leadership decisions, eye-opening statistics and data analysis, and statements from crime victims whose lives have been forever altered."

Lawrence's statement did not mention threat of impeachment of the city's top prosecutor, nor did it suggest impeachment processes begin.

"Today’s report is by no means a conclusion of the committee’s work," he said. "The investigation into the historic crime and violence in Philadelphia and recommendations for possible solutions will continue in earnest over the coming weeks."

Krasner has been critical of the committee, and Friday issued a statement to it.

"You have never specified what your basis of impeachment is," he said. "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 that the Select Committee intends to recommend my impeachment. Indeed, this Committee was formed for the express purpose of recommending my impeachment. Rep. (Torren) Ecker, one of the members of this committee, even publicly called for my impeachment before the Committee was formed."

Lawrence's statement cited a study commissioned by the Philadelphia Police Department that Kraners policies on the city' high crime.

Additionally, the committee said former employees who worked directly under Krasner told the committee his failure to properly train new assistant DAs on basic courtroom procedures directly contributes to the dismissal or withdrawal of a significant number of court cases.

"Criminals are not being prosecuted," Lawrence's statement reads. "Crime rates are up dramatically. And the citizens of Philadelphia are paying the price. A thousand Philadelphians have been murdered since the beginning of 2021. Carjackings and non-fatal shootings have skyrocketed under Krasner’s watch. Residents literally fear for their lives. Morale in the law enforcement community is low."

Krasner Friday said the city's 59 percent increase in the rate of homicide in Philadelphia over 2020-2021 is much lower than the rates of increase in the counties home to the sponsors of House Resolution 216.

"According to state police data, Washington County’s increase over the same period is 800 percent (Rep. O’Neill), Adams County is 300 percent (Rep. Ecker)," he said. "Beaver County is 250 percent (Rep. Kail). And when we average the rate of increase in homicides for the sponsors of HR 216 and the members of this Select Committee over the same time period, we find that their average increase in homicides is still higher than that of Philadelphia."