Jon Hatami, Candidate for Los Angeles DA

George Gascon had been the Los Angeles County District Attorney for two weeks and already Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami had already had enough.

Angry enough about Gascon’s day one “policy directives” that he went public, blasting Gascon and saying he was forcing deputy DAs to lie in court.

For speaking out, Gascon called him unfit for his job and promised disciplinary action.  Not having any idea how to properly run a district attorney’s office, Gascon seemed not to realize he really couldn’t do that.  Hatami sued him, but the case is still in the courts, largely due to Gascon switching his defense attorneys after losing two other deputy DA lawsuits and having to settle a third.

And now Hatami – the first in the office to publicly criticize Gascon – is running for district attorney, trying to end the problems of improper policy directives, shattered office morale, and an unsafe community that Gascon created.

“I’m running for DA because my children live in this community and Gascon has failed to provide for their safety, for anyone’s kids’ safety,” Hatami said. “I’m staying and fighting for Los Angeles.”

Hatami – whose wife is a sheriff’s office detective – said Gascon’s ideological obsessions have led directly to a complete “breakdown of the system,” leaving the public at risk.

The terrible relationship Gascon has with law enforcement agencies has made cops less safe and even re-think their career. “A lot of police officers are scared, a lot are leaving,” Hatami said.

An example of this breakdown – which puts the community at risk – is that Gascon was not even invited to be part of the recently announced anti-theft task force. Hatami said this shows that the community has “lost faith” in Gascon and his failed policies.

Hatami said Gascon’s failings were predictable because of his skill set, or lack thereof.

Gascon has never tried a case in court – ever. He has never filed a motion or even appeared in a court room as part of a case.

“He’s done nothing any other attorney would have done” just in the regular course of the job, Hatami said.

Gascon runs the office like a politician, not a district attorney, Hatami said.

“He came in with this ideology and didn’t understand what a district attorney does,” Hatami said.  “We’re supposed to prosecute criminals, make the community safer, and support victims. He doesn’t prosecute, he doesn’t support victims, and he’s made the community less safe.”

A new wrinkle in LA law enforcement is that October 1 the new “zero bail” schedule went into effect.  While a group of cities have filed for an injunction to stop it, it is not clear if and when that could take effect.

Hatami said “zero bail hasn’t worked” where its been tried and the Los Angeles version leaves it up to law enforcement on the scene to determine whether or not the perpetrator is a repeat offender to figure out proper “bail’ level and charges – that used to happen in court.

Even then, the schedule means that the current wave of smash and grab robberies, retail theft, etc., will also be considered “zero bail” offenses.

While the court system sets the schedule, Gascon could have raised an objection during the process. He did not.

Hatami said as DA he will expects to file “bail deviation motions,” when appropriate.  The motion allows a judge to review the case and consider a stricter outcome.  He also hopes to be able to re-visit the policy as soon as possible and in collaboration with the community, law enforcement, and the courts.

“A DA has to be tough on violent crime but have a heart,” Hatami said.  “Gascon has abandoned his job, abandoned the victims, and abandoned the community.”

For more information, here’s Hatami’s website: https://jonathanhatami.com/