Republican lawmakers descended on Philadelphia to criticize the city’s District Attorney Larry Krasner for the city’s crime rates, using the occasion to give a platform to family members of police officers killed in the line of duty. Among those present at the hearing were notable Republicans like Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, and New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, all part of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. This hearing, held in a federal building in Center City, was one in a series of similar events in Democratic-run cities where crime was the central focus.
The Republicans invited family members of Sgt. James O’Connor and Temple University Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald, who were both killed in the line of duty, to share their stories and voice criticism toward Krasner. During the hearing, committee members presented a mix of statistics, some of which were misleading, to paint the DA and Philadelphia’s government as responsible for the city’s public safety challenges.
Committee Chair Jim Jordan stated, “Philadelphia’s pro-criminal policies embolden criminals, while victims failed to receive the justice they deserve,” emphasizing that Krasner’s policies prioritized social justice over law enforcement. He and other Republicans pointed to Krasner’s approach to bail reform, reduced sentencing, and the non-prosecution of minor offenses like marijuana possession, prostitution, and retail theft under $500.
Democratic committee members countered that the hearing was merely a “cynical political circus,” focusing more on bashing Democrats than addressing crime. U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon noted that crime rates in Philadelphia had declined since their peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. She criticized the hearing as a distraction from the real work of passing legislation to address gun violence and other crime-related issues. Krasner, who was not invited to the hearing, held press conferences to refute the claims made by the Republicans, asserting that the hearing was more about political theater than constructive dialogue.
The committee’s Republicans, however, did not back down from their criticisms of Krasner. They pointed to the high homicide rates in Philadelphia, especially the 562 killings in 2021, as evidence of a broken system under the DA’s leadership. They also tried to link the spike in crime during the pandemic to the national “defund the police” movement, despite the fact that Philadelphia never actually reduced police spending.
Families of the slain officers shared their tragic stories and expressed frustration with Krasner’s approach to prosecuting violent crimes. Terri O’Connor, widow of Sgt. James O’Connor, lamented that her husband’s killer had been charged with multiple crimes in previous years but was not imprisoned due to the DA’s policies. Similarly, Joel Fitzgerald, father of Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald, called for the death penalty for his son’s killer, criticizing Krasner’s refusal to pursue capital punishment.
Throughout the hearing, Republicans reiterated their belief that Krasner’s policies contributed to higher crime rates and eroded public safety. Meanwhile, Democratic committee members used the opportunity to call for sensible gun legislation and community programs to address the root causes of crime.
Overall, the hearing in Philadelphia encapsulated the ongoing partisan divide over crime and public safety, with each side pushing their narrative amid a growing backdrop of social and political polarization.
