Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner was impeached Wednesday by the Republican-led Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
The final vote of 107-85 went almost entirely along party lines after intense floor debate, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Republicans currently hold a 23-seat majority in the House, but control now hangs in the balance due to the midterm performance of Democrats.
Krasner’s office released a statement criticizing “elected officials who don’t live or vote in Philadelphia” for “trying so hard to erase Philadelphians’ votes” without presenting “a shred of evidence linking [their] policies to any increase in crime.” Lui said Pennsylvania Republicans “have deliberately avoided hearing the facts about [his] office” and have not given him a chance to defend his record, according to CBS.
Following the impeachment vote, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kevin Beninghoff said House Republicans “stand up for the people of Philadelphia who have lived in fear for their lives and safety and that of their families. We stand up for those who have no voice but long for safety and freedom from fear.” He accused Krasner of “deliberate ineffectiveness in combating the crime crisis and violence plaguing the city,” making his impeachment “the right thing to do. “
The Pa. House voted to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday, advancing the effort to remove him from office.
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) November 16, 2022
Debate on the House floor was deeply divided and fiery before a 107-85 vote largely along party lines. https://t.co/inuUsmfQSv
The next step for the Republicans will be a trial in the GOP-controlled Pennsylvania state Senate, which requires a two-thirds majority for conviction and removal, the Wall Street Journal reported. No information has been given on when a trial will take place.
Krasner, who was re-elected to a second term last year, has been blamed for a rise in homicides and violent crime in Philadelphia. First elected in 2017, Krasner has expressed support for “dramatic reductions in the number of inmates in custody” as part of progressive reforms to Philadelphia’s criminal justice system, according to his website.
Philadelphia has seen a rise in violent crime and homicides, which are about to eclipse last year’s record, Axios reported in September.
A Pennsylvania House Republican Party investigation focusing on violent crimes in Philadelphia found a 4.46% increase in violent crimes over 2021 numbers. A 30.74% increase in property-related crimes and an increase of close to 49 % in robberies committed with firearms. Violent crime in Philadelphia accounted for 47.9 percent of the state’s total last year, according to Pennsylvania State Police data in the report. So far, in 2022, the city’s police department has recorded 5 percent fewer homicides after recording a record 562 in 2021.