Aug. 24, 2022
HARRISBURG – Reps. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Tim O’Neal (R-Washington), and Martina White (R-Philadelphia) issued the following joint statement Wednesday on the recent news that Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is openly refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena issued by the House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order:
“Nobody is above the law, and that is especially true for the district attorney in the biggest city in Pennsylvania. By refusing to comply with a lawful subpoena issued by an investigative committee formed by a bipartisan vote of the full Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Larry Krasner is permitting the same lawless behavior he allows on the streets of Philadelphia to reach the highest levels of the Office of District Attorney.
“District Attorney Krasner could have set the record straight, provided real input into the work of the General Assembly in helping make Philadelphia safer, and show his commitment to the well-being of Pennsylvanians merely by complying with the Select Committee’s subpoena. Instead, he chose the path of most resistance by turning his back on the bipartisan majority of the people’s representatives in the Pennsylvania House that authorized Select Committee to issue subpoenas and has broken his commitment to transparency and further veiled his office in secrecy. It begs the question, what is the district attorney’s office hiding?
“Refusing to comply with lawful subpoenas is a gross dismissal of the law by an official sworn to uphold and enforce it. The General Assembly has options to remedy Krasner’s refusal to comply. The District Attorney, the people of Philadelphia and all the people of Pennsylvania would be better served if he would fully cooperate with the Select Committee.”
Background: Rep. Kail was the sponsor of House Resolution 216, which formed the House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order, and gave it subpoena power after it was approved by a 114-86 vote on June 29, 2022.
Representative Josh Kail
15th District
Representative Tim O’Neal
48th District
Representative Martina White
170th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact for Rep. Kail – Nate Temple:
ntemple@pahousegop.com
Contact for Rep. O’Neal – Tracy Polovick:
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
Contact for Rep. White – David Foster:
dfoster@pahousegop.com