Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County. Progressive prosecutor. Safety and Justice walk hand-in-hand! Office’s account: @FairfaxCountyCA
Fairfax County, Virginia
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When we let wrongful convictions stand, innocent people are left in prison for crimes they didn't commit — while the real offender evades accountability and remains a threat to our community.
We know that the criminal legal system isn't perfect — and when mistakes are made, our community loses confidence in it.
That's why our Conviction Integrity Unit is so important: not only to remedy past injustices, but to build back public trust in our legal system.
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Pretty solid that the stated aim of Virginia’s new government is to expose kids to disease but not history.
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This is what happens when @GlennYoungkin decides to bully one of the most vulnerable segments of our population.
I am immensely proud of these kids for fearlessly standing up for their LGBTQ+ peers.
Crowds of students have begun to walk out of Northern Virginia schools in protest of Gov. Youngkin’s proposed restrictions on transgender students’ rights. WATCH LIVE: nbc4dc.com/muZ4h9F
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Fairfax County is tied for the safest county in the United States with a population of over 1 million.
We didn't make it here by locking up everyone with a pulse. Despite what the far right wants you to think, safety and justice walk hand in hand.
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This is so goddamn dangerous. For an AG to use a special grand jury to get at trans kids’ records is truly beyond the pale. This whole episode is an abuse of process and morally repugnant.
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“…No matter what the law in Virginia says, I will not prosecute a woman for having an abortion, or for being suspected of inducing one.” I write about my pledge to never prosecute a woman for making her own healthcare decisions today in @nytopinion. nyti.ms/3a9zfGZ
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Almost a year ago, we began this campaign. Many of us didn’t know the role of a Commonwealth’s Attorney. And if you did, it was hard to imagine changing it. Now together, we are bringing criminal justice reform to FX County. We aren’t going to charge for marijuana possession.
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👋🏻 again @JasonMiyaresVA. It’s me, the guy doing his job. Please stop lying about crime in minority communities & weaponizing victims’ trauma & start doing yours. Again, crime is down in Fairfax and we’re building a more equitable system. Justice and safety go hand-in-hand.
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Remember right after Dobbs when Republicans claimed they didn’t want to throw people in jail for getting abortions?
They lied.
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If the goal is to preserve representative democracy, you can’t unite with fascists, you can’t partner with people who think some of their countrymen deserve second-class treatment, and you can’t support systems that disenfranchise voters. You need to defeat them.
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Flashback: didn't @GlennYoungkin's campaign cyberbully a minor a few months ago on Twitter? 🤔
Nothing like calling your constituent a "loser" because he dares to point out the hypocrisy of your attempt to politicize a tragedy for attention on social media.
Way to keep it classy @CandiKingForHD2.
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.@GlennYoungkin doesn’t care about real public safety, only rhetoric. The great majority of officers welcome oversight b/c they know unchecked bad actors undermine trust in the police, which makes their jobs and their communities more dangerous washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/…
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Governor Youngkin spent yesterday campaigning in Georgia - ignoring the concerns of students around Virginia. Now, he's up in New York trying to make a name for himself on Fox, and doubling down on his anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
Will he ever come back to Virginia and just do his job?
During interview with Glenn Youngkin, Brian Kilmeade describes the student walkout in protest of Youngkin's proposed reversal of protections for trans students as "indoctrination." Youngkin says he has no intention of reversing his policy.
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We aren’t going to hold people in jail because they can’t afford bail. We are going to root out systemic discrimination for people based on who they are, where they come from or the color of their skin. Together we will make Fairfax County a more safe and just place for everyone.
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The news out of the Supreme Court today is saddening but hardly surprising.
No matter what the law in Virginia says, I will not prosecute a woman for having an abortion, or for being suspected of inducing one.
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Cash bail is dumb—doesn’t keep the community safe, creates a two-tiered system of justice, and creates more future crime.
Glad more states are getting rid of it and following the same basic rubric for hold/release decisions we implemented in our office. apnews.com/article/illinois-…
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The formerly incarcerated should get their voting rights back automatically. No matter how “efficient” @GlennYoungkin makes the application process, that process is the problem.
Glad @ACLUVA is suing to undo this vestige of Jim Crow. richmond.com/news/state-regi…
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To start - we won!
I started this campaign because Fairfax County’s criminal justice system doesn’t reflect the values of the community. It was guided under a tough on crime ethos from the 80s and the Commonwealth’s Attorney hadn’t faced a primary since the 60s.
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1/8 From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who came out to support my re-election campaign to continue to be your Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Your support means the world to me. We could not have done this without each and everyone of you. Thank you.
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When I was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County, far-right ideologues came after me immediately. They had tantrums on @FoxNews every week, crying that crime would skyrocket.
It's time to make this clear: safety and justice walk hand-in-hand.
🧵THREAD (1/19)🧵
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Last night, Governor Youngkin vetoed several gun control-related bills that were designed to increase community safety across the Commonwealth.
While I'm disappointed, I’m not surprised by his decision to prioritize pleasing the NRA over the lives of Virginians.
🧵A thread 👇
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Democrats in VA's General Assembly are working overtime to try and stem the tide of gun violence in the Commonwealth.
Instead of supporting them, @GlennYoungkin is using his time to march with extremists in support of an abortion ban.
washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/…
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If Governor Sweater-Vest tries anything here in Virginia, I've got one thing to say to him:
I will never prosecute a woman for making her own healthcare decisions.
Tonight, I spoke on a panel hosted by @UVALaw about the Dobbs SCOTUS decision, and what it means for the people of Virginia and Fairfax County. Once again, I will never prosecute a woman for choosing to have an abortion. Full-stop.
-SD
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.@GlennYoungkin will burn millions for a political stunt but won’t accept tax dollars from recreational marijuana sales.
His brand of dumb politics means deploying troops for “drug interdiction” purposes but not doing the thing that would undercut the illicit marijuana market🤷♂️
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It’s nuts that the accepted position of Republicans is anti Red Flag law. Red Flag laws save lives!
I’m proud of the work my office has done—including building a Red Flag law team—to make Fairfax County a leader in using the Red Flag law to save lives.
@MomsDemand @Everytown 👀
The three are vying for the party's nomination in a GOP-leaning Senate seat based in Chesterfield. richmond.com/news/state-and-…
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👋🏻 @TomCottonAR - Fairfax’s reformist prosecutor here. Thx for the feedback but we’re gonna keep building a system that treats working folks & communities of color fairly. If our incoming AG, Trump Republicans & the FOP have other ideas they’re gonna have 2 go through me.
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23 years ago the leadership of West Point gathered all us cadets into classrooms and spent an entire morning telling us that we need to identify and remove white nationalists from our future units. That turning a blind eye would hurt mission readiness.
Tuberville can pound sand
Tommy Tuberville says Biden is “destroying” the military by trying to root out “white extremists” and “white nationalists”
rollingstone.com/politics/po…
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After killing retail marijuana sales, Gov. Youngkin vetoed HB1/SB1 — which would have increased the minimum wage.
There are 500,000 Virginians working for $12 an hour or less, and a million working for $15 or less. This is a slap in the face to so many hard-working people.
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Republicans in the General Assembly have already introduced a bill to ban abortion in the Commonwealth - before the session has even started.
I don't care what draconian abortion laws they pass. I will never prosecute a woman for making her own healthcare decisions.
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We all know that @HungCao_VA is a dangerous MAGA extremist — but I don't think you should lose too much sleep over him, @TimKaine.
If his 2022 campaign is any indication, he'll probably end up knocking on doors in Maryland instead of Virginia.
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Even in the face of mass shootings, it’s too much for @GovernorVA to use the word “gun”. Not just today—he’s never used it.
It’s a GUN violence problem. If our Governor won’t even name it, he won’t address it. My heart breaks for the victims of this senselessness.
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I'm excited to announce that I was just endorsed by @votevets!
As a Veteran this endorsement means so much to me. Since taking office I've expanded our Veterans Treatment Docket to help Veterans struggling with PTSD and drug and mental health issues. Join me to keep moving Fairfax County forward. #VoteVetsEL
Donate to support the campaign today: secure.actblue.com/donate/fr…
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Listen as my opponent @Nuttall4Fairfax admits that if Republicans pass a bill criminalizing abortion, he would enforce it.
I won't criminalize abortion and have been a national leader on pushing other prosecutors to make the same promise.
Ed Nuttall doesn't share our values.
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Doing popular things—like protecting abortion rights—wins elections. Stop crying because the promises you made to your donors are unpopular.
Gov. Sweater Vest is so extreme he’s trying to sell a MASSIVE reduction of people’s rights as commonsense and unifying. Touch grass dude
Virginia Democrats are cynically trying to use abortion to divide people against one another because they think it will help them win in November.
Here's 55 seconds of Gov. Youngkin exposing their dishonesty and outlining a common-sense policy that we can all agree on.
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I'm excited to announce the endorsement of singer, songwriter, and philanthropist, John Legend. John's activism has led him to work on justice reform in America. I'm proud to receive his support. Here's the robocall he just released for my re-election. @johnlegend
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This is a horror show and it’s the path Youngkin and his crew are trying to sanitize and sell. But these bills and policies are really meant to:
-Cast teachers as the enemies of parents
-Convince kids they should be ashamed of their authentic selves washingtonpost.com/opinions/…
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Just three years ago, the media helped amplify the myth that Youngkin was a 'moderate' Republican, willing to work with Democrats to get things done.
Glenn Youngkin is no moderate — and he never was.
Last night, he vetoed raises for half a million hard-working Virginians.
After killing retail marijuana sales, Gov. Youngkin vetoed HB1/SB1 — which would have increased the minimum wage.
There are 500,000 Virginians working for $12 an hour or less, and a million working for $15 or less. This is a slap in the face to so many hard-working people.
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Reminder: Be nice to the people who knock on your door in the run up to Tuesday’s election. It’s hot, they’re being buzzed by cicadas, and they just want you to participate in democracy!
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If you think civilians should own AR-15s, you're not pro-police. These weapons are designed for one purpose: to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. They create a dangerous situation for both citizens and law enforcement officers in our communities.
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Thank you to the people of Fairfax County for choosing me to serve another four years. I'm proud of what we've accomplished so far in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office - and excited for everything to come.
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Wouldn’t pass a bill I helped write outlawing guns with the serial number scratched off, but we’re going to hand out criminal records for marijuana again? Totally the right way to improve community safety and end racial disparities in the justice system. Great work; no notes…🙄
Va. budget leaders sneak new marijuana crime into spending plan | richmond.com richmond.com/news/state-and-…
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.@JasonMiyaresVA finally admitted it in his op-ed today: there was no fraud in the 2020 presidential election in Virginia or anywhere else in the country.
Tell me, then. What's the point of your Election Integrity Unit?
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SB 5007 ending jury sentencing just passed the General Assembly. This is great news for justice in Virginia. Congratulations to everyone who pushed this past the finish line.
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This is it folks: Virginia is about to become the last southern state that’s a real option for reproductive rights.
It’s imperative that we show up to vote this year in Virginia and put people who will protect abortion into office AT EVERY LEVEL of government.
Breaking: NC Democratic lawmaker Rep. Tricia Cotham is expected to switch her party affiliation to Republican, handing NC Republicans a legislative supermajority and the votes to override D Gov. Roy Cooper mid-legislative session. #ncpol
axios.com/local/raleigh/2023…
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Dems only need to lose 2 Senate seats before Virginia gets an abortion ban that includes criminal penalties.
Instead of standing for reproductive freedom, my opponent repeatedly said he'd prosecute people for getting abortions. He doesn't share our values
americanindependent.com/very…
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The death penalty is racist and should be abolished. I'm glad to see the push to do so gaining some momentum in the General Assembly thanks to the hard work of so many advocates and hopeful our legislature will take this important step.
"The death penalty is racist... The role of the prosecutor always should be to build a criminal justice system that is fair for all people..." Read CA Descano's take on why the death penalty should be abolished in the @AlexGazette: bit.ly/2KyeloC
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I know it's hard for you, @GlennYoungkin, considering you've spent the last 2 years running for President rather than working for Virginians. It must be extremely painful to see those ambitions evaporate into thin air — but I'm extremely glad it happened.
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Sounds like @JasonMiyaresVA shouldn’t be pushing lies about crime and politicizing victims’ trauma as part of a power grab to undermine elected local prosecutors who don’t subscribe to his right-wing ideology. He should focus on his work, not mine. virginiamercury.com/blog-va/…
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To be clear, she was lying. The homicide rate in Virginia is 4x higher than the homicide rate in Fairfax County, which has seen a 10% drop in overall crime in the last two years.
wjla.com/news/local/virginia…
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I wish @GlennYoungkin was interested in having a real conversation about safety and justice here in the Commonwealth - but he's not.
Instead, he's too busy running for President and travelling around the country trying to appeal to a rabid far right wing Republican base.
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Celebrating #Pride in the City of Fairfax at the city’s first ever Pride event.
A wonderful event put on by @CityofFairfaxVA. Lots of credit to Mayor @csread for starting this tradition for the city!
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Hey Virginia, how many people watching tonight’s debate you think are gonna say “I wish there was a walking talking bank account in a red fleece up on that stage”?
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On Tuesday, Democrats in Fairfax County have a simple choice: continue building a system where safety and justice walk hand-in-hand, or erase the years of progress we've made in fixing our flawed criminal justice system.
dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/…
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Last night was a special night. I'm humbled to be inaugurated as the next Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney. I look forward to serving our County and ensuring we keep our community safe while seeking real justice.
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Thanks @morninggloria & @AlyssaMastro44 for highlighting my @nytopinion piece pledging to never prosecute women for having an abortion. Your assessment of my prosecutorial strategy should abortion be outlawed is on point: “just not gonna f*cking do it.” bit.ly/3Nge84z
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Our AG would rather fight culture wars and repeat Fox News soundbites than help everyday Virginians.
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Excluding ppl w/ a criminal record from minimum wage will drive poverty + recidivism.
Note how he uses the common tactic of arguing something draconian actually helps the people it hurts. Another example is the “we have to jail them to help them” mindset
theappeal.org/jeffrey-brande…
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There you go again @JasonMiyaresVA. Choosing to lie to the people about crime in our most diverse communities instead of actually showing up for work. In fact, crime in Fairfax was down 10% in 2021. We're promoting a more just system while keeping public safety a priority. 1/3
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This clown has spent the last three years politicizing his office and wasting tax-payer dollars on vanity exercises.
What happened to running for Governor, Jason? Finally realized that you've managed to be (somehow) even more out of touch than Winsome Sears?
I am running for re-election as Attorney General.
As Attorney General, I’ve deployed every tool available to keep Virginians safe and violent criminals off our streets.
We are not going back to the failed policies of the past; our families' safety and Virginia's future depends on it.
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Polls are open till 5pm! We're out across the county talking to voters at the polls!
Sign-up here to help us on Election Day: forms.gle/82ZMHhW5sF2sFQp28
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Illinois did the right thing and ended cash bail, bringing real reform and rejecting unfounded fear mongering. Virginia should be the next state to end cash bail, a practice that punishes the poor simply for being poor.
chicagotribune.com/politics/…
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I want to congratulate @parisa4justice and @ButaBiberaj on their successful re-election campaigns! I am pleased to know that Arlington County and Loudoun County will also continue to see justice reforms that keep their community safe and make their system more just.
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Our incoming AG @JasonMiyaresVA wants to work with national Trump Republicans (ahem @TomCottonAR), the FOP, & his other far-right friends to reverse criminal justice reform in Fairfax. My message to him: Not on my watch: wapo.st/3C7ukyO
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Almost a year ago, when people thought that running against an ensconced incumbent was a crazy idea, that we would never change a criminal justice system that has been stagnant for over 50 years, you stood up and said: no, change is coming.
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Cool story, bro. I did read them and I appear to be the only attorney worth a shit who has. Have fun with all the lawsuits next week.
Steve Descano exposes children to sex predators. foxnews.com/us/soros-backed-…
He also didn't read the executive orders before commenting on them.
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This shows the value of political activism. 15 months ago, I had to fight like hell to stop marijuana prosecutions—I thought my deputies and I might be jailed for contempt of court. Now the Governor is moving to speed up legalization by 3 years. Huge win! washingtonpost.com/local/vir…
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This is unmitigated horseshit.
@JasonMiyaresVA knows better than this & is lying to people about this prosecution’s legitimacy by misleading them on how state and federal prosecutions work.
It’s no secret I think Miyares is a joke, but even I’m stunned he would say this.
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A few hours ago, I spoke at @MomsDemand's annual #WearOrange event about how Fairfax County is leading the Commonwealth on implementation and use of the Red Flag Law, the bill I wrote with @AdamEbbin to ban unserialized guns, and the work left to be done.
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I'm proud to be named a @MomsDemand Action Gun Sense Candidate!
Since taking office I've prioritized gun crimes & worked to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose an imminent danger to our community. I’ve developed a Red Flag Law Team and work closely with the Fairfax County Police Department to make the most out of this law. To that end, 75% of all Red Flag law orders issued in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia come from Fairfax County. I'll continue to be outspoken on gun issues and stand with Mom Demand to end gun violence.
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The death penalty is racist, ineffective, & inhumane. That's why we stopped seeking it in Fairfax and why VA is on the verge of abolishing it. I hope President Biden will act decisively to dismantle the federal death penalty early in his administration.
"President Biden can seize on the historic racial awakening of the past year to begin building a more fair, equitable, and effective criminal justice system." -CA Descano in
@WashInformer, urging Pres. Biden to follow VA's lead & act on the death penalty: bit.ly/3qzDgrB
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Today I’m seeking to secure release for a DC firefighter w/ no prior criminal record who was unjustly arrested and prosecuted and has spent 20 months in prison. This is the first of 400+ convictions I hope to vacate bc of credibility + racial bias issues w/ the arresting officer.
First @WTOP: Fairfax County prosecutor seeks prisoner release, claims officer bias wtop.com/fairfax-county/2021…
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Tonight, I spoke at the @MomsDemand rally in Alexandria for National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
I know that we can build a community that is finally free from gun violence - as long as we make our voices heard.
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I don’t know how any kid who has to sit through years of lock down drills grows up to vote Republican
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Youngkin's vetoes aren't just boneheaded, they're reckless.
An assault weapons ban, waiting periods, closing the boyfriend loophole... All are common-sense laws designed to keep us safe.
With 1,000 Virginians killed by guns every year, we must do more.
wtop.com/fairfax-county/2024…
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When it comes to law enforcement and criminal justice, Republicans are nothing but hypocrites.
The next time you hear them talking about those issues, remember one thing: they're trying to sell you something.
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Our streets are so flooded with firearms and our legislators are so deeply buried in the pockets of the NRA that we are conditioned to panic every time we hear a loud noise.
Enough is enough.
nbcwashington.com/news/local…
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I want to welcome everybody who is moving to Fairfax County to attend @GeorgeMasonU!
If you're interested in getting in on the fight for criminal justice reform, economic equality and choice: @GMUdems has a seat for you.
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You agreed with my vision and because of your support we made it happen. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. If not for your support of the criminal justice reform movement, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to change it. I look forward to representing the Democrats in Nov
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Fairfax County is the safest community of its' size, anywhere in the country.
No matter how much Republicans lie about crime, Fairfax County residents know the truth.
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Great joining @FairfaxDems last night to thank them for passing a resolution opposing @JasonMiyaresVA’s power grab that would allow him to yank cases from local prosecutors driving reform. Thank you for your advocacy!
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It's been 5 years since the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, but it still feels so fresh. The hate groups that organized that rally are as strong as ever - but we can't sit back and let them win.
Hatred, racism, and bigotry have no home in Virginia.
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This morning my heart is heavy for the Nichols family and every Black parent who has to spend their Saturday morning explaining to their kids why yet another life was unnecessarily struck down. We must not grow numb in the face of such recurring tragedies. (1/2)
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I'm not a "Soros funded prosecutor," I'm the CA for Fairfax County - where the murder rate is 75% lower than the entire Commonwealth's. Maybe @MaggieClearyVA should look at the numbers (especially since she works in public safety) before making such a ridiculous claim.
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As Commonwealth's Attorney I’m elected to bring my communities values into the court house and I know my community does not want me to prosecute someone for getting an abortion
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Getting ready to testify in favor of @AdamEbbin’s bill that would make it easier to hold accountable individuals who possess and traffic untraceable firearms. Happy to have worked on this with him & @fatehinorfolk.
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Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice was formed from a belief that the time for criminal justice reform is now:taking the mandate we received from our communities and ensuring those communities’ values are reflected in the justice system. I’m proud to be a founding member
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Virginia Republicans dumping money into ads promising to make Virginia’s abortion laws more restrictive, something desired by only 17% of voters
wapo.st/48pFkZL
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It's sad to know that @GlennYoungkin cares more about running for President than protecting our most vulnerable youth - but I'm hardly surprised.
Glenn has made it abundantly clear: he's no friend of the LGBTQ+ community.
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"It's important in this role to put the community's values first... We need fairness, we need justice, and simple possession of marijuana is not fair, is not just, and, quite frankly, doesn't keep us safe"
fox5dc.com/video/640660
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Let's look at the facts:
✅ Crime is down 10% in Fairfax County
✅ Homicide rate in FFX is 1/4th of Virginia's
✅ Fairfax is the safest jurisdiction in the US with a population of over 1 million people.
Don't let the far-right lie to you about what is happening here in Fairfax.
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Great weather for door knocking.
My co-pilot and I are making it happen out here, gathering votes!
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Look at Republicans using the word “trafficking” to describe a person exercising their bodily autonomy.
They really do think pregnancy turns people into nothing more than forced birthing machines who can’t be trusted to make independent decisions. thehill.com/policy/healthcar…
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