Will Sunday and Trump spell trouble for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office?

Jared Piper / Philadelphia City Council Jared Piper / Philadelphia City Council

In the last two weeks of his administration, then-President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, to Democratic megadonor George Soros. While the 94-year old billionaire was not able to attend, his son Alex Soros, recently engaged to Hillary Clinton deputy Huma Abedin, accepted the medal for him in a move that enshrined the younger Soros as apparent successor to the world’s most controversial political donor.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the poster child of the Soros-funded “progressive prosecutor movement” is potentially facing new challenges from two fronts. District Attorney Larry Krasner of Philadelphia, a polarizing figure in criminal justice reform, is facing potential increased oversight as a result of two major political developments: the recent election of Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and the re-election of President Donald J. Trump. 

Krasner’s tenure has been marked by controversy, particularly among critics who argue that his progressive policies have exacerbated Philadelphia’s crime rates. While his policies are the political lightning rod that drew Pennsylvania legislators into a vote to impeach him last year, reports have emerged since Krasner’s first term that paint a disturbing picture of potential corruption within his administration. These concerns, coupled with allegations of undue influence from billionaire philanthropists George and Alex Soros, may lead to greater scrutiny under a new Trump administration and Sunday’s leadership as Pennsylvania Attorney General.

Krasner’s Tenure

Larry Krasner was elected District Attorney of Philadelphia in 2017 with the support of significant financial backing from Soros-funded political action committees (PACs). Soros, a well-known advocate for progressive criminal justice reform, has contributed millions to the campaigns of like-minded prosecutors across the United States. In Philadelphia, Soros’s contributions were pivotal in Krasner’s initial election, and the influence of such donations has raised questions about accountability and impartiality in prosecutorial discretion. Campaign finance violation fines were paid by both the Krasner campaign and Soros-funded PACs following both of Krasner’s elections, which in Philadelphia. 

However, what wasn’t investigated by the Biden-appointed US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania nor Democrat Attorneys General Michelle Henry and Josh Shapiro were reports that emerged regarding Krasner’s ownership interest in 1221-23 Locust St., where Krasner’s LLP, “Tiger Building”, collected $30,000 in rent from Real Justice PAC, who was cited for illicit campaigning for Krasner. As Campaigns and PACs are not supposed to coordinate nor commingle funds, the appearance of money laundering should have at least warranted an investigation from state or federal law enforcement.  Add that to the fact that Krasner’s “Tiger Building, LP” owes nearly $145,000 in delinquent taxes to the city he is elected to serve, and many Philadelphians are left wondering where the oversight is.  

Politically, Krasner has painted himself as a “reformer” reducing incarceration rates, decriminalizing minor offenses, and addressing systemic inequities. While leftists laud these efforts as steps toward a more equitable system, statistics have shown that these policies have coincided with rising crime rates, including record-setting homicides in Philadelphia since his election. This backdrop has made Krasner a focal point of national debates on crime and justice, and his critics see him as emblematic of broader issues linked to Soros-backed prosecutors.

Add this to the numerous scandals within the Krasner administration, recent contracting of a former employee who was recently convicted of public corruption, judicial excoriation, missing public funds, and a scheme where the District Attorney fails to properly defend claims of innocence by convicted killers, resulting in $84M in civil claims brought by attorneys formerly allied with Krasner — one wonders if the election of Trump and Sunday will be the “New Sheriff in Town” moment that finally sheds light as to how Krasner has so arrogantly flaunted ethics throughout his two terms as District Attorney.

Attorney General Dave Sunday’s Role

The election of Dave Sunday as Pennsylvania Attorney General represents a shift in the state’s approach to criminal justice. Sunday, a former York County District Attorney, has positioned himself as a more traditional law-and-order prosecutor, contrasting sharply with Krasner’s progressive ideology. Notably, Sunday has not received campaign contributions from George or Alexander Soros, distinguishing him from Governor Josh Shapiro and President Joe Biden, who have both faced accusations of conflicts of interest due to such donations.

Sunday’s stated priorities include combating violent crime, cracking down on illegal firearms, and holding public officials accountable. His election signals the potential for heightened oversight of Krasner’s office. While the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office typically does not intervene in the operations of independently elected district attorneys, there is precedent for collaboration or oversight in cases of systemic failure or misconduct. If Sunday perceives that Krasner’s policies are contributing to public safety concerns, he could use his office to investigate or pressure Krasner to adjust his approach.

Trump’s Re-Election and Federal Oversight

The re-election of President Donald Trump adds a federal dimension to the potential scrutiny of Krasner. During his campaign, Trump pledged to address crime in urban areas by targeting Soros-funded district attorneys whom he views as contributing to rising violence in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco. Trump’s plan includes appointing up to 100 federal prosecutors to investigate and, where necessary, prosecute district attorneys whose policies are seen as undermining public safety.

Krasner’s high-profile association with Soros makes him a likely target of such federal initiatives. Trump’s Justice Department could launch investigations into Krasner’s handling of specific cases, his office’s allocation of resources, or potential ethical violations related to campaign financing. This could lead to federal oversight of Krasner’s office, adding significant pressure on him to alter his policies or risk federal intervention.

Implications for Krasner and Philadelphia

The combined pressures from Sunday and Trump could have significant implications for Krasner’s leadership. Increased oversight from the state and federal levels could result in sanctions pursuant to his numerous judicial excoriations, criminal prosecution, or limit his ability to implement progressive policies without external review. Additionally, any federal investigation into his office could damage public confidence and complicate his political future.

For Philadelphia, this dynamic raises broader questions about the political nature of oversight in Pennsylvania. Unlike many other states, elected officials in Philadelphia are not subject to the independent oversight of an Inspector General, and the state normally cannot remove elected officials for gross waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement unless they are convicted of a crime.  While some state legislators have tried to fix this, this issue has persisted to the point where a politician like Krasner, who has violated finance laws in both of his elections, is able to retain his office.

Krasner’s tenure as District Attorney has been defined by scandal shrouded by claims of bold reforms. The election of Sunday and the re-election of Trump set the stage for heightened scrutiny of Krasner’s policies and their impact on public safety. With Trump’s pledge to investigate Soros-funded prosecutors and Sunday’s focus on accountability, Krasner may find himself navigating unprecedented oversight from both state and federal authorities. How this unfolds will not only shape Krasner’s legacy but also influence the broader debate on the role of progressive prosecutors in addressing crime and justice in America.

Based in Philadelphia, A. Benjamin Mannes is a consultant and subject matter expert in security & criminal justice reform based on his own experiences on both sides of the criminal justice system. He is a corporate compliance executive who has served as a federal and municipal law enforcement officer,  and as the former Director, Office of Investigations with the American Board of Internal Medicine. @PublicSafetySME

Editor’s note: This article has been subsequently edited to fix a typo.

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2 thoughts on “Will Sunday and Trump spell trouble for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office?”

  1. ” Presidential Metal of Freedom” – Seriously?

    “These concerns, coupled with allegations of undue influence from billionaire philanthropists George and Alex Soros, may lead to greater scrutiny under a new Trump administration” – I am far more concerned about Elon Musk who has given $277 million to Trump’s campaign, owns a social media company, has openly embraced a neo-Nazi party in Germany by speaking at a rally, downplaying the Holocaust, and running an unofficial government agency that may affect Federal policy that is not accountable to Congress.

    1. Ok, so spell-checker and a human editor failed.

      The issue is the ODA failing to prosecute alleged criminals who have violated “black letter law.”

      If Krasner disagrees with the law he should become a legislator and craft and pass legal reforms.

      He is and has been in the wrong office to do that.

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