Why has Biden not replaced Graves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that Graves has to work with the labor pool he inherited at USAO-DC. Career staff are exercising discretion to not prosecute.

He may need to roll a few heads to change the culture of the office.

I think this is an accurate assessment. It’s been mentioned before that right around the time Graves took over there were many actual career prosecutors that retired or left the office for other reasons. You have to remember that the current environment isn’t (and hasn’t been for quite some time) conducive to hiring prosecutors in progressive cities who actually want to be prosecutors, as opposed to those “prosecutors” who think they can effectuate criminal justice reform from the inside but actually have little desire or aptitude for prosecuting street crime.

This.

I believe JLG used to be a prosecutor of juveniles, no?

[Anonymous]

I’m no fan of Graves. But you have to listen closely to his explanation because it’s actually pretty scary. If you listen you will hear him say it’s almost impossible to get a DC jury, all 12 people, to vote unanimously for conviction. No matter how overwhelming the evidence. Now let that sink in.

[Anonymous]

There was this end run by staff prosecutors around an attempt by Bowser and a former USAO to get more gun crimes prosecuted. Of course the former public defenders on the DC COA have made any gun convictions much more difficult with recent rulings too.

[Anonymous]

^ https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/04/politics/black-prosecutors-dc-gun-cases/index.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m no fan of Graves. But you have to listen closely to his explanation because it’s actually pretty scary. If you listen you will hear him say it’s almost impossible to get a DC jury, all 12 people, to vote unanimously for conviction. No matter how overwhelming the evidence. Now let that sink in.

It's likely true. Even W3 has drunk deeply of the kool aid of "not their fault."

Yet, he still could prosecute and plead more cases. When under pressure/scrutiny, he does seem able to dial the number up at will, all other "challenges" not withstanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the circular firing squad that is DC's failure to address crime, there is the Mayor, the Council, MPD, DCAG Racine and then US Attorney Graves. The Biden administration has the power to replace Graves with someone who would be more aggressive about prosecutions. One of the Dems' biggest weaknesses is that they are too soft on crime because of the policies pushed by the progressive wing of the party (with the DC Council being the laboratory for some of those failed experiments). Biden can't do anything about the makeup of the DC Council but can and should replace Graves.

And a BUNCH of judges. They keep letting people carrying guns off because they don't think the police could search them as they obviously concealed items on their person. Insane. Can these decisions be appealed higher? The se judges are creating precedent that is allowing people will illegal weapons to run this town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If Graves is doing fine on J6 prosecutions then maybe the answer is to let him keep doing that, but provide Graves with a backup and extra staff for the rest of the DC crime prosecutions.

Maybe some of the "connected" folks on this board should be making that suggestion.


Bring up some aggressive, ambitious AUSAs from Texas or somewhere on a special detail to prosecute local D.C. crimes.

That's a really good suggestion. Doesn't have to be from TX but would be advantageous to have a POC from a red or purple state who has bigger political ambitions. Much easier to win elections back home when you have that prosecutorial experience and street cred from making a real dent in DC prosecutions and convictions---which, at this point, would not be hard to do given current USAO stats in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the process for that?

Biden can fire him and appoint someone new.

Biden fire someone? Surely you jest.

Not one person under Biden lost their job after the horrendous withdrawal in Afghanistan and the drone strike that killed innocent Afghans. And, Def. Sec. Austin still has his job despite the fact that he failed to inform the chain of command about his absence.

Biden doesn't fire people. He doesn't know how.