L.A. law officials issue stark warning to progressive DA following Boudin recall: 'You're next'

Following the successful recall effort of progressive San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Los Angeles law enforcement officials are warning their city's district attorney that he'll be next to go.

Boudin, a progressive who was viewed as being soft on crime, was recalled Tuesday by roughly 60% of the city's voters.

While overall reported crime has not increased since Boudin took office in 2020, viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies everywhere from drugstores to clothing boutiques have highlighted that such offenses as robberies and car thefts have risen. In many cases, the perpetrators are neither arrested nor charged.

Jon Hatami, the deputy district attorney for Los Angeles, told Fox News earlier this week that he believed Boudin, the son of 70s-era Weather Underground terrorists, would be recalled and to George Gascon, he would say, "you're next."

"The people of Los Angeles have had enough ... the best thing for everybody here in Los Angeles is to recall [county Attorney General] George Gascon and get him out of office," he also said.

Gascon is facing his second recall attempt since arriving in office less than two years ago. 

On Tuesday, as Boudin faced imminent recall, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva also took aim at Gascon, calling him a "failed district attorney."

"The DA of San Francisco just conceded he has been recalled. George Gascon, you're next," said Villanueva, who is himself headed for a runoff re-election bid in November.

Gascon's office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday. 

Gascon, formerly the district attorney of San Francisco, has been criticized for implementing many of the same progressive judicial reforms that Boudin was recalled for Tuesday.

At the outset of his L.A. job, he implemented an initial ban on charging juveniles as adults, and eliminating cash bail for non-violent crimes. Those is in his office have also called him a narcissistic leader who is unwilling to work with others.

The current attempt to recall Gascon has amassed about half-a-million signatures, and needs about 67,000 more by July 6.