HARDIN CALLS FOR TODD SPITZER TO RECUSE HIMSELF IN ALL POLICE USE OF FORCE CASES
DA Spitzer’s remarks to the New York Times, mocking the notion of police accountability, reveal he cannot be impartial in cases where law enforcement officers act improperly
SANTA ANA–Today, Former Marine Judge Advocate and candidate for District Attorney, Pete Hardin, called on Todd Spitzer to recuse himself in every police use of force case in light of comments made to the New York Times. In his comments, Spitzer mocked the notion of police accountability, and therefore revealed his inability to be impartial in cases where law enforcement acts improperly.
“Having served as a prosecutor at every level of our country’s criminal justice system, I know that bringing fresh eyes to old cases is a common practice,” said former Marine Judge Advocate Pete Hardin. “Todd Spitzer’s comments tell us that in Orange County, an entire class of people–police officers–are exempt from such reviews. Prosecutors that implement policies creating two classes of people not only demonstrate their inability to be impartial, they violate their oaths to ensure equal justice under the law. For the public to trust that police will be held accountable for unlawful uses of force, DA Spitzer must recuse himself from all cases where law enforcement officers act improperly.
“As a Marine Judge Advocate I reviewed incidents where fellow service members were involved in potential violations of the rules of engagement and international law of armed conflict. My experience was that Marines welcomed the reviews, because accountability for service members who broke the law helped validate the mission of the law-abiding service members among most Afghans. Any failure to hold ourselves accountable for human rights violations would have blurred the legitimacy of our efforts to liberate the Afghans from the Taliban’s oppression and atrocities.
“Having worked hand-in-hand with law enforcement officers and federal agents at every level throughout my career as a prosecutor in the military, the DA’s office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I know that the vast majority of police serve and protect our communities with distinction. But when they break the law we must hold them accountable, as we do anyone else in society, to ensure justice for victims, and to validate the mission of the good officers in the eyes of the public. Failure to do so destroys community trust, which ultimately endangers law enforcement officers.
“The pursuit of justice is never lost, it cannot be put off until tomorrow, and we can’t kick it down the road because it’s politically expedient. If a prosecutor is compromised, conflicted, or otherwise unable to be impartial, as DA Spitzer has demonstrated here, if there’s new evidence or the original review was otherwise deficient; who you are and what you do for a living must have no bearing on whether a case is reviewed. Spitzer’s comments undermine the District Attorney’s sworn mission of equal justice. That erodes public trust in law enforcement, and in turn jeopardizes the safety of Orange County police officers and citizens alike.”
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Current Orange County District Attorney Republican Todd Spitzer’s tenure has been defined by scandal. Four women in Spitzer’s office have filed claims asserting Spitzer promoted an employee and close friend despite having been made aware of the sexual harassment complaints against him. Spitzer later allowed the employee, who was the best man at his wedding, to retire with top flight benefits. Spitzer also attempted to drop sexual assault charges against high-profile defendants, leading a judge to remove him from the case. Survivors of the sexual assault survivors were “dragged through the mud” and “grossly mistreated” by Spitzer for two and a half years, leading two of them to abandon their case.
Spitzer has been involved in an evidence booking scandal, a jailhouse informant scandal, and has defamed a victim of OC’s deadliest mass shooting as retaliation for peaceful protest. Spitzer has also defended a DNA collection program known informally as “Spit and Acquit” that coerces defendants to give up their DNA to law enforcement, a practice the ACLU has called “unconstitutional.“
Pete Hardin is a former Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy District Attorney, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and one of Southern California’s leading litigators running for Orange County District Attorney. Pete entered public service when, in 2005, he earned his commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. A combat veteran, Pete served in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012 as a member of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Pete is a member of the Democratic Party.
Orange County’s rapidly changing electorate has led Democrats to now outnumber Republicans in Orange County holding a 4.1% voter registration advantage.
While I normally consider ANYTHING that comes out of Greg Diamonds mouth toxic (mostly the .99cent store food that helps keep his figure CHEETOS Baby!), but I have to agree with his contention recently, as published on his blog, that the 18 patrol cars from three different law enforcement agencies and TWO police airships, who were following (“NOT CHASING”) the dead Meth smoker from Anaheim who held an ENTIRE neighborhood hostage (working class Santa Ana neighborhood, mind you) were likely imposters.
How can you argue with a brilliant legal mind like Greg’s?
I know that his contention that Julio Perez was merely giving those YOUNG girls copies of BAREFOOT CONTESSA’S “Make Ahead” videos, Many laughed. But, now, I think Greg might be on to something, maybe Jeffery Dahmer and Richard Nixon got a bad rap.
I really think readers should know what Todd said to the Times that provoked this. You’ve got a small link to it but the article is behind a paywall. Here’s our DA, in the New York Times, and it is so embarrassing:
“To go back and open up all the cases, because you have an absolute grudge against police officers and you’re trying to carry a badge of honor — ‘Look at me, look at me, I’m going to prosecute police officers, I’m going to hold them accountable’ — is turning the table completely upside down,” said Todd Spitzer, the district attorney of Orange County, Calif. A Republican, he is an outspoken supporter of the union-backed campaign to recall his Democratic counterpart in nearby Los Angeles.
“These counties where the ‘woke D.A.s’ are elected,” Mr. Spitzer said, “they are utterly destroying police morale. They are making it impossible to recruit police.”
You’re welcome.
You don’t subscribe to the New York Times Vern? It’s one of the four dailies that hit my driveway every morning
Since you care about what readers think Vern, the Hardin campaign insists they never paid for an ad on your blog that posted calling it a paid for by the Hardin campaign. I have a screen grab somewhere. DPOC confirmed the campaign didn’t spend money with your site. Care to explain? Or do you want Donna to take the blame for that while you hit the bathroom?
My posting the ad exactly the way he requested, and then taking it down a couple days later, were both done at Pete’s request. You can confirm that with him assuming you know him. He became aware of all the anonymous attacks against me, and he was apologetic but correct that Todd will use anything he can against him.
This is the most important race in the county this year, and shouldn’t be drawn into or distracted from by any petty blog fights. It’s good that you are posting his press releases. This is my last comment here for the year.
Campaign denies they ever paid for an ad. I’ll check the finance reports. I called Pete once the Mater Dei story broke… his press release came out later
I spoke with Pete’s campaign yesterday; blog advertising isn’t part of their priorities so the “paid for by Pete Hardin for DA” committee never paid for an ad that was up briefly on Vern’s blog period. Then I got this email from Nelson:
From: chezvern@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2021 11:44 AM
To: dchm@cox.net
Subject: Just leave it alone
I wanted to give Pete an “ad in kind donation” or whatever.
Pete’s campaign manager said I should write, I forget what, that it was a paid ad, for some reason. I don’t know if they were planning to send me money or not, but I told them I didn’t want any.
Two days later he asked me to take it down because of all the stupid scandals.
That’s it.
You can check with Pete.
I know you want to embarrass me, but you’re just going to embarrass Pete and I think we both want him to win, so leave it alone. Bye.
Given Vern’s track record on honestly (the Twitterverse saga from last April) does anyone believe this to be true?
“Because of all the stupid scandals”
Hmm let’s see,
Your wife sexually harassing strangers?
You trying molest Lori Gallowa
Your FIVE DUI’S?
Greg’s Defense of Julio Perez MULTIPLE sexual impropriety?
Vern calling Richard Diaz retarded?
Wait. I know Donna in her pajamas at the #METOO conference at Chapter One?
The list goes on and on…
There is a Sea Change in tolerance of Vern and company coming. Let’s see how well he plays the victim then!
I wonder if “Pete” is aware of the “Worst Kept Secret In OC” and your and your wifes history of sexually attacking women?
Is he aware that you have FIVE DUI’s? That you are still drinking?
I know that Todd Spitzer knows, thats going to make it pretty hard for Pete to stand with a molester and drunk.
Well Pete can counter that Spitzer hired Vern at least once to play piano at some event. And then disavowed him after one of Vern’s DUIs.
Vote #PeteHardin4DA so we can throw #toddtheturd in prison and leave him there to slowly rot. I’ll be enjoying life…and relishing even more knowing he is suffering. Actually, just seeing him lose #OCDA2022 is enough for me..
I’ll settle for that
#toddspitzerisapredator
I pulled your other comment; if you have actual evidence, email it to me at dchm@cox.net