DOJ Launches Investigation Into Fairfax County Prosecutor Steve Descano’s Charging and Sentencing Practices

The Department of Justice opened an investigation against Fairfax County Prosecutor Steve Descano on Wednesday. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the investigation would zero in on his plea bargaining, charging decisions and sentencing policies.

"Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow local prosecutors to pick and choose winners based on their immigration status," Dhillon stated. The investigation was prompted by a request from a pro-police group citing a Biden-era law once aimed at cops, Fox News reported.

Descano has received more than $600,000 in campaign support from the Justice and Public Safety PAC, a committee primarily funded by billionaire megadonor George Soros.

The scrutiny comes amid a string of murders in Fairfax County involving illegal alien repeat offenders. Most notable among them was the killing of Stephanie Minter by Abdul Jalloh. Jalloh had reportedly been arrested and released more than 30 times.

In press releases following Minter’s death, DHS claimed that Descano’s office had been warned about Jalloh and the danger he posed to the public ahead of the killing. News of the investigation prompted mixed reactions from Virginia Democrats. Rep.

Walkinshaw dismissed the case as a witch hunt. "I think the DOJ has been putting a lot of ‘Ls’ on the board. I think this would be another loss in their column," Walkinshaw said. A Democratic representative stated, "I was discouraged, but I don’t want to prejudge.

I very much hope and believe that the Commonwealth attorney has done nothing wrong or untoward. " Rep. Beyer offered a more measured response even as he has voiced criticisms of the Trump administration’s focus on immigrants in the past.

"If it’s legitimate, I hope they do their job well. I’ve often seen cases around the country where you just can’t believe somebody with so many prior convictions is still out," Beyer stated. "I think we have a responsibility to protect the public," he added.

His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Fox News reported.