On Nov. 16, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to impeach progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner in a 107-85 vote. This was along party lines, except for Republican Mike Puskaric voting against impeachment.
“[Krasner’s] dereliction of duty and despicable behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Republican State Representative Martina White said. “The legislature has a duty and the only authority to act when a public official refuses to perform their duties and puts the public in danger.”
The vote for impeachment was spurred by the rapid increase in violent crime across Philadelphia. According to the Philadelphia Office of the Controller, at least 459 homicides have been recorded this year. There were also 1,669 nonfatal shooting victims so far in the city. In 2021, homicides rose 13%.
These records have prompted Republicans to criticize Krasner, pinning much of the responsibility for the rise in crime on his progressive criminal justice policies. “While incidents of violent crime are increasing, prosecution of crime by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has decreased during this same period,” lawmakers wrote in a House resolution.
Republicans have followed the Constitution of Pennsylvania in their pursuit against Krasner, which states that elected officials can be held liable for impeachment “for any misbehavior in office.”
However, in response, Krasner has claimed that GOP lawmakers have mischaracterized his actions and do not have evidence that his policies have led to an uptick in crime. The District Attorney, like many Democrats, believes this is a partisan attack on democracy.
“Philadelphians’ votes, and Philadelphia voters, should not be erased,” Krasner tweeted after the vote. “History will harshly judge this anti-democratic authoritarian effort to erase Philly’s votes – votes by Black, brown, and broke people in Philadelphia. And voters will have the last word.”
Next, action will move to the Pennsylvania State Senate. Republicans will need a two-thirds majority vote to convict and remove Krasner.
“The Senate’s Constitutional obligations are clear, so we are prepared to fulfill our duties and continue the impeachment process of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner next week,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman said in a statement. “The plan is to call the Senate back to session and convene for two days, Tues., Nov. 29 and Wed., Nov. 30, to officially begin our role in this process.”
During these sessions, the Senate will vote on three resolutions, first setting the rules of impeachment. These will reflect the Congressional rules of impeachment and the precedent set in 1993 with the impeachment of Commonwealth Justice Rolf Larsen, according to the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.
Krasner will be ordered to appear before the Senate to begin the trial on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Democrats claim that the District Attorney is being used as a scapegoat for the surge in crime, arguing that his removal will constitute an abuse of power. They also said this would violate the will of the voters, who reelected Krasner by a landslide in 2021.
Unfortunately for the GOP, enthusiasm for impeachment seems to be lower among their party in the Senate compared to the House, making conviction and removal unlikely.
