Menendez brothers parole review ordered by Gov. Newsom amid public safety concerns and release talks
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a comprehensive risk assessment by the state parole board to determine if Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, pose an unreasonable risk to civic security if released.
A major development has emerged in the Menendez brothers' case as California Governor Gavin Newsom directs the correctional release panel to conduct a comprehensive threat evaluation. Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted of their parents' 1989 murders, are seeking clemency and a potential release. The evaluation aims to determine whether the relatives pose an unreasonable menace to public safety if granted parole.
The Menendez brothers have spent decades behind bars for the killings of José and Kitty Menendez in Beverly Hills. Their defense has long claimed that the homicides were driven by years of severe abuse at the hands of their father. Recent evidence, along with growing public advocacy, has reignited discussions about their case and the possibility of release.
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Why is Governor Newsom reassessing the Menendez brothers’ clemency request?
Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a comprehensive risk assessment to determine if Lyle and Erik Menendez should be considered for freedom. His office stated that the evaluation will consider multiple factors, including the brothers’ rehabilitation efforts, past conduct, and the impact on victims and survivors. "The Governor’s primary consideration when evaluating commutation applications is safety," Newsom’s office said in a letter to the family member’s defense attorney, Mark Geragos. If the assessment supports amnesty, the case will proceed to the parole board for further review.
Despite this evaluation, L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposes their discharge, having requested the court to deny the Menendez brothers' habeas corpus petition, which seeks a new trial or case termination. Hochman argues that newly presented evidence—such as a letter from Erik Menendez detailing alleged abuse and claims from a former boy band member—lacks credibility and should not impact their sentencing. His stance contrasts with former DA George Gascón, who previously supported resentencing the pair to make them eligible for a supervised probation on their age at the time of the crime.
What are the legal challenges facing the Menendez relatives?
The Menendez brothers are pursuing multiple legal avenues for release, including unlawful imprisonment appeal and resentencing. Their motion, filed in 2023, cites new evidence of alleged abuse that was not presented at judicial process. However, L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has urged the court to reject it, arguing the evidence is unreliable. George Gascón previously backed reevaluation of sentence, which could make the brothers eligible for parole.
A resentencing hearing is scheduled for March 20 and 21, where the bench will determine if their life-without-parole ruling should be reduced. The litigation has sparked debate on rehabilitation and justice for inmates convicted as young adults. With Newsom’s ordered risk assessment and ongoing legal efforts, the next few months could be pivotal in shaping the brothers’ fate after more than three decades in prison.
