Kennedy's Response 😗🤌

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Senator Kennedy. I'm going to comment on that's your question.

Well, I'm going to want to respond.

I want you to.

Okay.

Attorneys and prosecutors make decisions every single day as to what cases will be prosecuted and which cases will not. It is physically, legally impossible to prosecute all cases. They establish priorities. They try to serve the public in establishing those priorities. Every prosecutor makes that choice.

They can't prosecute every possible violation of the law. That's just part of their responsibility. I don't see why that is a reflection on whether or not you agree with their choices or not. Some are going to take a much different view than others. That's just the nature of it. And in terms of summarizing what's wrong with the criminal justice system in 60 seconds,

challenge any one of us to do the same.

Well, Mr. Chairman, you know, Dick, the affection that I have for you, but this is the third hearing in which you've made editorial comments about my questions. I'm getting the floor open to you. So I want to respond. Number one, this very bright person has spent her life in the criminal justice system. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask what, if anything, she thinks is wrong with it and

get a candid answer. Number two, of course you're right about prosecutorial discretion, but you and I both know that's not what my question was about. We have a number of district attorneys that have taken the position that they are going to ignore criminal statutes passed by a legislative body and they are not going to prosecute, they meaning the prosecutors, an entire line of cases.

For example, shoplifting, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest in the name of social justice. Now, Mr. Chairman, we both know what I'm talking about. And so does the witness. And I don't know why she won't answer the question. And that's the point I was trying to make.

I mean no disrespect to either of you, but I think my questions are perfectly appropriate but I think my questions are perfectly appropriate in this environment.