It took the voters of Los Angeles County far too long to wake up, but when they did, they roared. Last month, they delivered a decisive, earthshaking blow to George Gascon, the man who spent years turning the District Attorney’s office into a circus of chaos, lawlessness, and disgrace. Enter Nathan Hochman, a man whose election was not just a landslide victory, but a restoration of sanity. Winning by an overwhelming 61.5% to Gascon’s paltry 38.5%, Hochman stormed into office with a clear mandate: clean up the rot Gascon left behind and put law enforcement back where it belongs—at the heart of justice.
Gascon’s tenure was marked by his relentless war on the police and his shameless pandering to criminals. He hired opportunistic “special prosecutors” with sky-high salaries to drag police officers through the mud while law-abiding citizens suffered under his so-called reforms. Now, Nathan Hochman, true to his word, is tearing down this malignant apparatus brick by brick. Over the weekend, Hochman took his first swing at one of Gascon’s most egregious hires—Lawrence Middleton, the so-called special prosecutor tasked with investigating police-involved shootings.
Middleton, let’s be clear, was nothing more than a Gascon henchman with a gold-plated contract and zero results. Paid over $1 million since 2021 to do little more than posture and point fingers at law enforcement, Middleton exemplified the kind of grotesque corruption and waste that defined Gascon’s regime. Meanwhile, the average hard-working DA prosecutor earned $135,000 a year. Middleton’s removal is not just an administrative decision—it is an act of justice for the taxpayers, for the police officers unjustly targeted, and for the very integrity of the DA’s office.
Hochman, a man of discipline and principle, is now putting police cases back where they belong: in the hands of experienced, accountable prosecutors. No more anti-police witch hunts. No more political theater disguised as justice. The law—not ideology—is back in charge.
And then there’s the Menendez Brothers case—a symbol of just how far the justice system fell under Gascon’s soft-on-crime policies. For those who may have forgotten, Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of cold-bloodedly murdering their own parents—a gruesome and unambiguous act. But Gascon, ever eager to coddle criminals, was inching toward clemency for these brutal killers. The audacity! A DA showing mercy to two remorseless murderers while police officers faced scrutiny and smears for doing their jobs.
But now? Hochman is taking the wheel. Instead of leaning into clemency like his reckless predecessor, Hochman made it abundantly clear: he will review the facts, follow the law, and seek justice. No political favors, no pandering to activists—just cold, hard scrutiny of the evidence.
“There’s an Erik Menendez case and a Lyle Menendez case,” Hochman said, signaling his measured, no-nonsense approach to justice. He’s not interested in emotional theatrics or media-driven narratives. He’s interested in truth, fairness, and a system that doesn’t crumble under pressure.
This is a dramatic and much-needed contrast to George Gascon’s tenure, a time when criminals were prioritized over victims and the police were treated as scapegoats for societal decay. For far too long, the men and women in blue—those who run toward danger, not away from it—were vilified by opportunistic politicians like Gascon. Hochman’s leadership marks the return of a DA who will support law enforcement and stand with them as partners in justice, not adversaries.
“People use the Menendez case as a springboard to get interested in criminal justice issues,” Hochman said. Indeed. But here’s the truth: under Gascon, the “criminal justice issue” was simple—criminals ran free, police were demonized, and victims were forgotten. Under Hochman, the issue is clearer: justice will be impartial, police will be respected, and criminals will face consequences.
To those who still wonder whether Hochman is keeping his promises—let there be no doubt. He’s only been DA for two weeks, and already he’s shown the courage to uproot Gascon’s toxic policies and begin rebuilding trust in the system.
Nathan Hochman’s victory was a victory for common sense, for law enforcement, and for every resident of Los Angeles who wants their streets safe and their justice system fair. To George Gascon and his ilk: your reign of ideological lunacy is over. The adults are back in charge, and the badge once again has a friend in the DA’s office.
Let justice roll down like mighty waters, and let the officers who defend our streets stand tall, knowing they are no longer alone.