California Lawmaker Warns Menendez Brothers' Case Is Driving Return Of Bill To Release Thousands Of Killers

A California lawmaker blames nan attraction connected nan Menendez brothers' lawsuit for prompting a measure to resurface that could put thousands of killers backmost connected nan streets.

"California Democrats conscionable opened nan situation gates for complete 1,600 cold-blooded killers," Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones, a Republican, shared successful a connection pinch Fox News Digital. 

"Democrat lawmakers person proven clip and clip again they don’t attraction astir nan unfortunate aliases their family. They don’t attraction astir keeping nan nationalist safe. They attraction astir defending killers."

Jones added what makes this move moreover much absorbing was nan timing of it.

GOV. NEWSOM DOING 'POLITICAL CALCULUS' AHEAD OF MENENDEZ BROTHERS RESENTENCING DECISION

Lyle and Erik Menendez arsenic young men pinch their mugshots overlayed. The brothers are serving life sentences for nan murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez successful 1996.  (Ronald L. Soble/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

"As soon arsenic the Menendez brothers' business started trending, each of a abrupt this measure comes up again," Jones said. "And it's really a very benignant of cynical effort to get caught up successful that activity of societal media, media attention, nan property rhythm for building somebody's name. ... So, we're opposed to this bill. 

"It’s a shameless effort to thrust a activity of societal media sympathy pinch zero respect for nan thousands of different sadistic killers their measure could unleash."

Jones said, dissimilar immoderate of his Democratic counterparts, Republicans successful California and nan Senate are committed to keeping Californians safe. 

"And nan measurement we do that is by keeping these convulsive felons locked up successful situation wherever they belong," Jones said.

"Dangerous Democrats are playing authorities pinch nationalist safety." 

Jones said nan move to resentence Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were serving life successful situation without parole for nan 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, was not nan correct action to take. 

"It's beautiful straightforward to me. These group were convicted of very heinous murders pinch a condemnation of life without parole. And for america to spell backmost connected that sentencing now and past nan victims to beryllium re-victimized, nan families of nan murdered, to person to continuously relive this is unconscionable to me," Jones explained. 

Jones added what doesn't make consciousness successful each this is Gov. Gavin Newsom's Democratic Party continues to push to protect perpetrators alternatively of victims and utilizing nan Menendez brothers' lawsuit to get their measure crossed nan decorativeness line.

MENENDEZ BROTHERS COULD GET FREEDOM UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW SIGNED BY GAVIN NEWSOM: EXPERT

Erik Menendez, left, and relative Lyle perceive during a pre-trial proceeding Dec. 29, 1992, successful Los Angeles aft nan 2 pleaded guiltless successful nan August 1989 shotgun deaths of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise Menendez of Beverly Hills, Calif.  (Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)

"I deliberation nan legislators from LA are taking advantage of that news rhythm and nan societal media attraction that is coming from this. They deliberation they're gonna get immoderate Hollywood stars to travel up to Sacramento and attest connected this measure to beforehand it. I don't deliberation that's going to happen," Jones explained.

Jones was speaking astir SB 672, besides known arsenic nan Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act, which is simply a California measure that would let individuals sentenced to life without parole for crimes committed earlier nan property of 26 to petition a parole proceeding aft serving astatine slightest 25 years.

The authorities Senate passed SB 672 Tuesday by a 24-11 vote. The connection now heads to nan Assembly.

The bill, introduced by Democratic Sen. Susan Rubio, was amended to exclude criminals convicted of definite offenses nan chance to activity parole, including those who killed a rule enforcement serviceman aliases carried retired a wide shooting astatine a school, among different offenses.

"Sacramento’s emotion matter pinch criminals doesn’t look to beryllium letting up, moreover aft 70% of Californians made it clear they wanted lawmakers to ace down connected crime. Now, nan authorities Senate is trying to fto convicted murderers retired of jailhouse early," Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican campaigner for California governor, shared successful a connection aft nan bill's transition successful nan Senate. 

"It's besides astonishing that erstwhile nan Menendez brothers recovered a measurement to use for parole, nan legislators present still doubled down and continued to push nan measure through," Jones added. "And, again, it goes backmost to Gavin Newsom and nan Democrats successful California protecting perpetrators and ignoring victims."

The erstwhile bill, SB 94, would person fixed definite inmates serving life without parole a chance to petition to person sentences reviewed if crimes were committed earlier June 5, 1990, but it stalled successful nan legislature and did not move forward. 

Newsom's agency told Fox News Digital it typically does not remark connected pending legislation.

Rubio's agency told Fox News Digital she is "disappointed" immoderate lawmakers are sharing mendacious information. 

"It is unfortunate that nan measure has been grossly misrepresented. I americium disappointed that my friends from nan different broadside of nan aisle proceed to peddle misinformation when, retired of respect for them, I went complete successful item what nan measure does and does not do. I invited them to springiness maine input, and nan invitation is still open," Rubio's agency shared successful a statement. 

During Erik and Lyle Menendez's resentencing proceeding past month, some shared affectional testimony, admitting "full responsibility" for their parents' murders aft a bombshell determination by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic to resentence them. 

The resentencing proceeding came aft nan brothers revenge a habeas corpus petition successful May 2023 citing caller grounds of intersexual assault. Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón past revenge a mobility for resentencing successful October 2024. Both filings followed nan transition of AB 600, a California rule allowing for resentencing of long-convicted inmates to align pinch existent law. 

"There's each kinds of typical circumstances, that's what a batch of these murders are called, typical circumstances that, really, these group don't merit to ever beryllium retired of prison," Jones said. 

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said "justice should ne'er beryllium swayed by spectacle" aft nan judge's decision.

"The determination to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez was a monumental 1 that has important implications for nan families involved, nan organization and nan principles of justice," Hochman said successful a news release. "Our office’s motions to retreat nan resentencing mobility revenge by nan erstwhile management ensured that nan tribunal was presented pinch each nan facts earlier making specified a consequential decision.

"The lawsuit of nan Menendez brothers has agelong been a model for nan nationalist to amended understand nan judicial system. This case, for illustration each cases — particularly those that captivate nan nationalist — must beryllium viewed pinch a captious eye. Our guidance and study ensured that nan tribunal received a complete and meticulous grounds of nan facts. Justice should ne'er beryllium swayed by spectacle."

The brothers remain successful prison but are now eligible for parole. They person a parole committee proceeding scheduled for August.

FREEDOM FOR THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS MIGHT COME FROM A SURPRISING SOURCE. AND THIS COULD BE NEXT

Erik and Lyle Menendez look a important parole committee proceeding successful August pinch California Gov. Gavin Newsom arsenic nan decision-maker. (Getty Images)

Jones said nan Menendez brothers are "getting typical attraction by nan media and nan Democrat leadership, who are really retired of touch pinch mundane Californians."

"Look, promoting this and pushing this thought is opening a Pandora's container for 1,600 different typical condition murderers that are successful situation correct now, and I conscionable can't support moving successful a guidance that allows truthful galore of those group retired connected parole," Jones said.

"I would reason if (the Menendez brothers) are genuinely rehabilitated, which I person immoderate doubts astir that, but if they are, past possibly nan champion spot for them is successful prison, wherever they tin mentor and thief different group that are coming into nan situation strategy to get their lives turned astir too."

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Jones added that releasing Erik and Lyle Menendez is not a consequence he is consenting to get behind.

"As a society, do we want to really return nan consequence of letting these 2 retired aliases immoderate of nan different 1,600 typical condition murders that we don't cognize by sanction but are successful situation for nan aforesaid sentence? Do we really want to rotation nan dice and return nan consequence of allowing these group retired and having nan opportunity for immoderate much victims successful California? And I deliberation nan reply is simply a resounding no," Jones said. 

Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, and Landon Mion contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Price is simply a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, nationalist crime cases, forbidden immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas tin beryllium sent to [email protected]