PA Lawmakers Launch Impeachment Effort Against Philly DA Larry Krasner

PHILADELPHIA — An effort to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has been launched by GOP three state legislators.

State Reps. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland) and Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) Monday said they are starting the process of impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Pennsylvania does not have recall laws, but does allow statewide impeachment efforts for elected officials.

The three members said they are, as of today, circulating a co-sponsorship memo for supporters of Articles of Impeachment they hope to have completed in the near future.

Once the Articles of Impeachment are introduced, they will then be referred to committee.

Once the committee approves them, the Articles of Impeachment can be considered by the full House of Representatives.

If approved by the House, there will be a trial in the Senate to determine whether the impeached official should be removed from office.

They are accusing Krasner, a self-described progressive, of being derelict in his duty to enforce existing Pennsylvania laws in Philadelphia.

In 2022, 227 homicides have occurred in Philadelphia as of Monday, according to Philadelphia Police statistics.

The legislators said nearly 1,000 people have injured or killed by gun violence in Philadelphia to date.

They cited the June 4 South Street shooting as a moment that showed them action needed to be taken against him to ensure Krasner is enforcing the law in Philadelphia.

"We did not arrive at this decision lightly or easily," Kail said. "In fact, we are taking this action after we have taken significant steps to pass legislation that addresses violent crime in Philadelphia by ensuring our current laws are enforced. We are starting this process now because the unchecked violent crime in Philadelphia has reached a breaking point due to the willful refusal by District Attorney Krasner to enforce existing laws."

Ecker accused Krasner of persistent dereliction of duty in willfully refusing to enforce current criminal laws already on the books in Pennsylvania that are designed to keep communities safe.

"Unfortunately for the people of Philadelphia, and the people of Pennsylvania at large, the problem of violent crime in Philadelphia has reached a point that demands this action be taken,” he said. "Taking this step today and undertaking this process continues what we have been doing and what we need to do to combat violence and crime here in Pennsylvania – ensure the laws already on the books are enforced."

O’Neal said that what happens in Philadelphia, especially relative to the issue of violent crime, is ultimately a statewide problem.

"Across the country, people are standing up to unchecked and uncontrolled violence and lawlessness allowed because of radical politicians in district attorneys’ offices, like Larry Krasner," he said. "Just last week, city businesses said they are thinking of relocating because of spikes in crime. Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s major economic engine, a tourist attraction, and the birthplace of our freedoms. If unchecked crime is keeping businesses and tourists from visiting and locating in Philadelphia, it impacts Pennsylvania as a whole."

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) said the city has unchecked crime and said Krasner's "open refusal to enforce current Pennsylvania law in the city is a clear dereliction of his duty to keep Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians safe."

"Now is the time to have a serious discussion about impeaching Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner," he said. "I look forward to seeing what these members come up with as they continue with this very important undertaking."

A website has been launched for people to share stories on how they have been affected by Krasner's policies.