A member of the murderous Manson family is now free. Don’t blame the parole board. Blame Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon because he refuses to staff parole hearings and fulfill his duty to protect public safety.

Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, who was serving a life sentence for murder and conspiracy convictions in the Charles Manson “family” 1969 killings of Rosemary and Leno LaBianca that shocked Hollywood and the nation, was recommended by the parole board for early release five times since 2016, but she was denied three times by Newsom and twice by his predecessor, Jerry Brown.

I represented the La Bianca family and received a denial, but there was an LA County prosecutor right next to me also fighting to keep this dangerous criminal behind bars.

Here in Orange County, our residents know that our prosecutors never abandon our victims. We will remain by their side fighting every day to protect public safety.

For more than 50 years, the people of California could sleep at night knowing the members of the Manson family would never be free. Now every Californian should lie awake worried about what other dangerous and violent criminals are going to be set free because LA County DA Gascon refuses to protect public safety and Governor Newsom is helping him throw the prison doors wide open.