Larry Krasner refuses to comply with state committee subpoena leading an investigation into his job performance

The ongoing feud between Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg is just getting started. 

Krasner’s office said Tuesday it will not comply with a subpoena issued by a state legislative committee created to investigate his office. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported attorneys for Krasner sent a letter to the committee Monday stating that its efforts “repudiate the law of this commonwealth” and “serve no valid legislative purpose,” and that his office will not be producing any documents in response to the subpoena. 

Krasner said Tuesday he “can hardly imagine anything more anti-democratic and more authoritarian than people who do not even live in Philly throwing out Philadelphia’s elected officials after a free and fair election.” 

The Republican-controlled General Assembly adopted House Resolution 216 in June to establish a Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order. The bill, introduced by state Rep. Josh Kail, coincided with calls from GOP members to impeach Krasner. With a rise in violent crime in the city, the resolution created the committee to investigate, review and draft a report on Krasner’s tenure. Four Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the resolution, including three from the City of Philadelphia: state Reps. Joe Hohenstein, Kevin Boyle and Ed Neilson. 

The majority of Democrats in Harrisburg criticized the effort, and Krasner’s office called the initial impeachment attempts a “farce.” 

“It is profoundly troubling that the district attorney of Philadelphia is objecting to a bipartisan legislative effort to consider how public safety in the city can be improved to ensure residents and visitors are safe,” Jason Gottesman, House Republican Caucus spokesperson, said in a statement. “Regardless of the district attorney’s stance, the select committee will move forward as directed under House Resolution 216, which was approved by a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives.”