Three of New York’s top elected officials appeared surprised Thursday when pressed about a House Judiciary Committee report alleging local prosecutors intentionally downgraded charges against noncitizens to protect them from deportation.
During a Manhattan press conference, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez faced questions regarding claims that city prosecutors altered or reduced charges to help noncitizens avoid convictions that would trigger removal.
“Did any of you order prosecutors to downgrade gun charges to keep illegal immigrants in the U. S., per the Judiciary Committee report?” a reporter asked.
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Katz threw her hands up and shrugged in response, the New York Post reported.
“Our answer couldn’t help it,” Katz said, before a speaker redirected the room, asking for “any other on-topic questions” and moving the news conference along.
“We charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest possible charge under the law,” a spokesperson for Katz’s office told Fox News Digital.
The news conference exchange followed the release of a 22-page congressional report detailing widespread practices across New York City prosecutors’ offices.
According to the document, Katz’s office employs an “Immigration Specialist” to help negotiate “immigration-safe” plea deals and reduce past convictions.
The report also cited a 2022 memorandum from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg allegedly instructing prosecutors to seek dispositions that avoid deportation consequences for all misdemeanors and non-carceral felonies.
In addition, the report states that the office of Bronx DA Darcel Clark trains prosecutors in “Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining.” That includes offering non-deportable offenses, avoiding aggravated felony charges and using hypothetical or “legally impossible” charges, such as “attempted reckless assault,” which lack legal intent requirements.
Prosecutors were also allegedly instructed to omit critical details from official conviction records, such as gun involvement, domestic relationships or the age of minor victims, to prevent federal immigration authorities from using them as grounds for removal.
After the news conference, a spokesperson for Katz reached out to the Post to deny that leniency is ever shown in weapons cases.
“We charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest possible charge under the law,” the spokesperson said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the other four New York city district attorneys’ offices for comment.