“I believe that they have paid their debt to society,” Gascón said. “The judge will make the final decision.”

Lyle and Erik were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. According to the organization, around a dozen of their relatives were present at the press conference L.A. Times. “We know this was not an easy decision, but it is the right one,” said her aunt, Joan VanderMolen. “This is about truth, justice and healing.”

During the press conference, Gascón also said: “I will never claim that what we are trying to do here is to excuse their behavior… when you are mistreated, the right way is to call the police.” Even if they didn’t think about it they ever wanted “To be released, they embarked on a different journey – a journey of redemption and a journey of rehabilitation.”

The Menendez brothers’ case received renewed attention this fall thanks to Netflix Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez and the Menendez brothers documentary, but the timing of this news – while Gascón is running for re-election – has called the decision into question.

His opponent in the DA contest, former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, said in a statement: “Attorney General George Gascon received Menendez’s habeas corpus petition in May 2023 and the resentencing request in February 2024. Yet he did so until days before Waited November 5.” Election, down 30 points in the polls as there were articles about how his failed policies have led to more murders of innocent people, to release his recommendation for resentencing, Gascon has the fairness and impartiality his decision, allowing Angelenos to question whether the decision was right and fair or just another desperate political move by a district attorney running a losing campaign and looking to grab headlines with a made-for-TV decision. Angelenos and everyone involved deserve better.

Responding to criticism that this was politically motivating, Gascón said: “There is nothing political about it. We have sentenced over 300 people. We will continue to upset people.”

Emily Burack (she/her) is the senior news editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals and a range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was deputy editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.