The Menendez brothers’ freedom bid could be thwarted after voters fired LA DA George Gascon

The Menendez brothers’ bid for freedom could be thwarted after Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón lost his re-election bid on November 5.

The LA DA, who recently shared his office’s decision to recommend that the murderous brothers be re-sentenced, was fired by voters as former Assistant U.S. Attorney General Nathan Hochman claimed the title.

Hochman has not yet announced his position on the Menendez brothers – who are currently serving life sentences without parole for the murder of their parents Jose Menendez and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez.

However, he has previously condemned Gascon for his decision after the hit Netflix drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story brought the case back to global attention.

Hochman said during a debate in October: “The timing is incredibly suspicious.”

George Gascon held a press conference last month where he recommended Erik and Lyle be resentenced – 35 years after they murdered their parents Kitty and Jose in their Beverly Hills mansion

Nathan Hochman, the new LA DA, has not yet announced his position on the Menendez brothers and will take office on December 2.

But the new LA DA, who could withdraw Gascon’s recommendation on the couple, previously assured during an LA Times and KNX News debate that if elected he would “dive deep, deep into the facts.”

“You certainly wouldn’t want me to hold a press conference to say I’m just thinking about it.”

While Gascon recommended re-sentencing, Hochman said he must thoroughly review the case and the law before making a decision.

“Before I can make a decision on the Menendez brothers’ case, I will need to become thoroughly familiar with the relevant facts, evidence and law,” Hochman said in a statement.

“I will need to review each brother’s confidential prison records, the transcripts of both trials, and speak with prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel and the victims’ family members.”

The statement concludes: “If for any reason I need additional time, I will ask the court for that time.”

But with a hearing set to take place on December 11 and Hochman expected to take office on December 2, Hochman has only a little more than a week to make a final decision.

Speaking to CNN On Wednesday, Hochman said he would act as “swiftly” as possible to review the landmark case.

53-year-old Erik Menendez (pictured here in January 2023) was arrested in 1990 and convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.

Lyle Menendez (pictured here in January 2023) received the same sentence as his brother

Erik and Lyle were one step closer to freedom just two weeks ago after former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon recommended that they be resentenced for the murder of their parents

The Menendez brothers spent seven months on the streets after killing their parents, Kitty and Jose (pictured center)

Chilling crime scene photos show blood-soaked couch where Jose Menendez was shot

“If I ask for a delay, it will not be a delay for the sake of delay, because I believe the Menendez brothers, the victims, the family members and the public deserve to have a decision made as soon as it can be made in a thorough manner . he told the outlet.

Gascon held a press conference just two weeks ago where he recommended that Erik and Lyle receive a new sentence – 35 years after they murdered their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.

His recommendation was that they be immediately eligible for parole, but it will be up to a court to ultimately determine the brothers’ final sentence.

“I believe they have paid their debt to society… and the system provides the opportunity to have their case heard by a court of law,” Gascon said at the time.

The announcement followed mounting community pressure to reconsider the life sentences without parole given to Erik and Lyle at their 1996 trial.

The brothers have never denied killing their parents, but have long claimed they were driven to do so by years of sexual and physical abuse by their businessman father.

The public in the 1980s was unconvinced of their claims and instead believed that they were ruthless monsters.

But in recent months, a TikTok movement from more sympathetic fans and a duo of Netflix shows have returned them to favor.

Gascon approached the Menendez brothers’ relatives as he entered the news conference last month and greeted Kitty’s sister Joan, 92, who has long advocated for her nephews’ release.

Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty, after their first trial was overturned

The duo, then just 18 and 21, murdered their parents Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in their $1 million Beverly Hills home in August 1989.

A sympathetic Gascon told the packed audience: “I really believe they have been abused. They have been in prison for almost 35 years. I believe they have paid their debt to society.

“After careful evaluation, I have come to a point where I believe it is appropriate to retaliate.

‘I’m going to recommend that to the court tomorrow. What that means is that we’re going to recommend to the court that the life without possibility of parole be expunged, and that they be convicted of murder, which, because there were two murders involved, is 50 years to life.

“But under the law, they are immediately eligible for parole because they were under 26 years old when these crimes occurred.”

It was a bittersweet announcement for the brothers’ loved ones, including Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, and Lyle’s wife, Rebecca Sneed.

“Yesterday was a difficult and emotional day,” Tammi wrote on X/Twitter on October 25.

‘I am grateful to Public Prosecutor Gascon for his courage to convict Erik again. “I am of course disappointed that he did not move forward and act on his own belief that Erik and Lyle have served enough time in prison.”

Pictured: Lyle and his wife, Rebecca Sneed

Gascon had the opportunity to recommend reducing the charge to manslaughter, but he chose against it because “these were clearly murders.”

“I don’t believe manslaughter would have been the appropriate charge given the premeditation,” he said.

“I believe these were clearly murders. “I don’t think it would be appropriate to go all the way to manslaughter.”

Although Gascon hoped the Menendez brothers would be released soon, he acknowledged that his office was deeply divided over the case.

“We don’t have a universal agreement. “There are people in the office who strongly believe they should spend the rest of their lives in prison, they don’t believe they were abused,” he said.

“And there are people in the office who are convinced they should be released immediately.

The reexamination of the case comes more than 35 years after Jose and Kitty Menendez were fatally shot by their sons, who were 21 and 18 years old at the time.

The couple was arrested less than a year later in 1990 and convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.