Wed Feb 26 22:20:00 UTC 2025: **California Governor Orders Investigation into Menendez Brothers’ Release**
SACRAMENTO, CA – California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a state parole board investigation into the public safety risk posed by Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. The investigation, revealed in a teaser for the Governor’s podcast, will involve public safety experts and forensic psychologists conducting a risk assessment.
The Menendez brothers, currently serving life sentences without parole, have sought clemency from Governor Newsom and are pursuing resentencing, hoping to reduce their sentences. This investigation is a response to those requests.
The investigation’s findings will be shared with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and the Superior Court judge overseeing the resentencing effort. While Governor Newsom emphasized that there’s no guarantee of a positive outcome, he stated that the investigation aims for transparency and due diligence before any clemency decision is made.
The announcement comes after months of consideration of the brothers’ clemency request and days after the Los Angeles District Attorney opposed their efforts to overturn their convictions. The Menendez family’s lawyers expressed gratitude for the governor’s decision, emphasizing that the investigation doesn’t guarantee release but allows for a thorough assessment of the brothers’ rehabilitation.
A two-day hearing on the resentencing effort is scheduled for next month. The brothers’ defense previously argued self-defense, citing years of alleged abuse, a claim disputed by prosecutors who cited the brutal nature of the crime and a financial motive.
First Piper 