News Releases

VAN NUYS, CA — Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has filed its opposition to the recusal motion filed by Lyle and Erik Menendez seeking to recuse the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from the case.  Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic has scheduled a hearing on May 9 to consider this motion. A copy of the motion can be found here.

“In the opposition, the District Attorney’s Office has argued that in a ‘drastic and desperate step,’ the defense has decided to ‘sidestep the central issue of resentencing’ and present an argument ‘devoid of merit’ to recuse the entire District Attorney’s Office,” District Attorney Hochman stated. “The entire defense argument over recusal boils down to the defense not being happy with the current District Attorney’s position on resentencing. While this desperate argument may work in a press interview, it fails in a court of law based on an adversarial system of justice.”

“Our position on resentencing is not yet, rather than never, as it depends on the Menendez brothers finally coming clean after 30 years with all the crimes, lies, deceits, and cover-up they engaged in and refuse to renounce,” District Attorney Hochman added. “From lying about their claims of self-defense to trying to get friends to lie about their father being a violent rapist of one of the brother’s girlfriends or the mother trying to poison the family, these continuous lies demonstrate that the Menendez brothers have not shown full insight into their crimes, have not been rehabilitated, and continue to constitute a risk of danger to society.”  

In addition, District Attorney Hochman thanked his team of prosecutors — particularly Assistant Head Deputy Habib Balian and Deputy District Attorneys Seth Carmack and Ethan Milius — for their unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Court is presented with the full picture.

“They have shown extraordinary dedication and professionalism throughout this process and their work continues to honor the memory of Jose and Kitty Menendez,” District Attorney Hochman said.