Los Angeles County District Attorney candidate Nathan Hochman accepted a request to interview with 2UrbanGirls on the upcoming Primary Election scheduled for March 5, 2024.
Hochman is a former United States Attorney General who unsuccessfully ran for California Attorney General in 2022. During his race against Rob Bonta, he ran as a Republican but has since switched to Independent.
2UG: When current DA Gascon took office he issued nine directives that prompted an outcry from deputy district attorneys. Are you familiar with any of them? If so, how do they impact residents and visitors in Los Angeles County?
NH: I am extremely familiar with the nine special directives Gascon issued on December 7, 2020, and would reverse each of them. I believe the role of the District Attorney is to enforce the law, not make it or change it unilaterally (that is the province of the state legislature, governor, and citizens through Propositions). Gascon’s blanket special directives that, for example, forbid prosecutors from charging certain sentencing enhancements, from charging certain misdemeanors, from charging certain crimes against juveniles and where, appropriate, trying them in adult court, and from attending parole hearings on behalf of victims, are wrong and must be reversed. I reject blanket policies on both sides of the extreme pendulum swings, from blanket policies of mass incarceration to Gascon’s blanket policies of “de-carceration.” Instead, I advocate the “hard middle” where prosecutors make individualized analyses of a defendant, the crime committed, and the impact on the victim to determine who the true threats are and send them to prison; and identify nonviolent first-time offenders for whom community service or a diversion program might be appropriate. In all situations, however, people must be held accountable for their actions and not have a DA close his eyes to certain crimes since they might not accord with his political ideology.
2UG: There is growing resentment to the unintended consequences of Prop 47. If you are elected, would you support efforts to repeal it?
NH: Proposition 47, co-authored by DA Gascon, has had severe consequences on public safety throughout California and especially in Los Angeles County under Gascon’s administration. As a result, property crimes just under $950 are now rarely prosecuted, sparking the explosion of retail and property crimes we see on the news almost every day. Even if these criminals are arrested, they are being cited and released the same day. Prop. 47 has also destroyed the effectiveness of drug courts because it took off the table the alternative of going to state prison for certain drug crimes, particularly those dealing with meth, heroin and fentanyl, disincentivizing those with drug addictions from participating in a rigorous drug treatment program. I would support and lead efforts to reform Proposition 47 to address these unintended consequences since it has not turned out to be the “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” that its promoters promised voters when it was enacted in 2014 and instead has made us all less safe.
2UG: Close to three dozen cities have signed onto a lawsuit against the Zero Bail Policy. If elected, do you have the sole authority to reverse it?
NH: Unlike Gascon who has advocated for a zero bail policy, I would advocate for a bail policy based on a careful review of the risks of a defendant committing future crimes or not showing up at their next court hearing. The lawsuit the cities filed against the new Zero Bail Policy challenges the actions of the LA Superior Courts which have instituted this policy for those arrested by law enforcement prior to an arraignment on their case. DA Gascon refused to show up to argue against this policy when it was instituted by the courts. While neither he nor I have the sole authority to reverse it, the DA does have the power to advocate strongly on behalf of victims and the public to keep those that will harm them in custody. I would use that power to try to make changes from Day One. I would advocate for having every case brought to a magistrate within 48 hours of arrest so that we would no longer have a blanket policy that certain criminals, notwithstanding their potential to harm society, are back on the streets within hours of arrest.
2UG: Complaints to the department’s Public Integrity Division have gone ignored which allows the statute of limitations to expire. If elected, would you ensure that complaints are thoroughly investigated and charges filed, if warranted?
NH: My background as a prosecutor included five years in the Public Corruption and Government Fraud section where I personally conducted investigations and brought public corruption cases against public officials and law enforcement officers who committed crimes while on duty. I also safeguarded against corrupt government officials as President of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. I will 100% make sure that all complaints are thoroughly invested and charged, if the evidence so warrants.
2UG: Besides the aforementioned directives issued by Gascon, what other changes do you feel are needed in the department to address public safety issues in LA County?
NH: In addition to reversing Gascon’s blanket policies and bringing back individualized analyses of cases involving the full range of crimes from misdemeanors to violent felonies, to reversing Gascon’s parole hearing policy, and to reversing Gascon’s zero bail policy, I would launch a task force to address homelessness, focusing on supporting the efforts of HOST (Homeless Outreach Services Team), go after fentanyl poisoners/murderers (including advocating a huge push in the schools to educated students and parents as to the dangers of fentanyl), and lead a human trafficking task force (LA is one of the leading counties in the nation for human trafficking).
2UG: As a former federal prosecutor, what was your office’s working relationship with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office and what role, if any, does it have directly working with the District Attorney? Has that relationship changed under the current DA?
NH: Under Gascon, not only has he lost the support of the prosecutors who work for him (97.8% polled supported his recall) and the cities he serves (36 cities passed no-confidence motions), but also law enforcement. Law enforcement, federal and state, do not look to the DA’s office to bring the most important cases and seek full punishment under the law anymore, and the relationship between Gascon and law enforcement is far worse than with any DA in Los Angeles County history. As a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Assistant Attorney General as well as the co-founder of the LA Sheriff’s Foundation, I have the personal credibility to restore that relationship and build back the trust that has been lost. And I will from Day One of my administration.
2UG: Finally, what is your vision for the office should you be elected the next District Attorney for Los Angeles County?
NH: My vision for the DA’s Office is to restore it to the national prominence it once had. The first order of business is to restore the purpose of the office, holding criminals accountable for their actions and prioritizing safety and the interests of victims and the public instead of the interests of criminals. DA Gascon has lost the trust of his office with 97.8% of his prosecutors supporting his recall; he has lost the trust of law enforcement who are reluctant to bring cases to the DA’s office because of its pro-criminal charging policies; and he has lost the trust of the public with 36 cities passing no-confidence motions against him. It’s not surprising that such trust has been lost since Gascon has demonstrated little trust in those he leads. Instituting blanket policies shows distrust for everyone in his office and wastes the collective thousands of years of experience and wisdom his over 900+ prosecutors bring to the job. I will re-establish that trust with prosecutors and take advantage of their experience and wisdom and re-invigorate the partnership with law enforcement because I will let them do their jobs – fairly, effectively and vigorously build cases based on the evidence and bring charges according to the dictates of the law, not a personal political ideology. My favorite leadership saying is: “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” As DA, I will make sure everyone who wants to support this mission gets credit for it, and I will focus every day on ensuring the safety of LA County residents in their homes, streets, parks, roads, shopping centers, workplaces and communities.
Hochman is one of nine challengers facing George Gascón next year.
According to Inglewood City Clerk Aisha Thompson, vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed out on February 5th and drop-off locations will open on February 6th to return your ballots.
Sample ballot books will be mailed out on February 9th and February 20th is your last day to register to vote.