Menendez Brothers' Lawyers Challenge D.A.'s 'Political' Sentence Opposition

Lawyers for Erik and Lyle Menendez are contesting Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's decision to withdraw support for resentencing the brothers, who received life sentences without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents. Hochman's predecessor, George Gascón, had advocated for resentencing to make them eligible for parole, citing their rehabilitation and the nature of their offenses as youthful offenders. Hochman's withdrawal is criticized as politically motivated, following his election campaign focused on a tough-on-crime stance and subsequent staffing changes that included appointing a family member opposing the brothers' release to a high-level position. The brothers' attorneys argue that Hochman's reasons, including claims of incomplete acknowledgment of guilt and rule violations, are either meritless or politically driven. The case has garnered renewed attention due to recent documentaries and continues to be a point of legal and media interest.