ORANGE – Today, former Marine Judge Advocate Pete Hardin released the following statement in the wake of major developments in the Grant Robicheaux and Casey Riley case. While the California Attorney General’s office recommended Robicheaux and Riley be charged with sexual assault and added allegations that the surgeon drugged their victim, Spitzer attempted to drop all charges against these alleged sexual predators. Orange County DA Todd Spitzer received $2,000 in 2018 from Riley’s attorney, Scott Borthwick, and recorded a $1,700 expenditure to Borthwick’s law firm in 2010.

“Sexual assault is a scourge on society. The District Attorney must listen to and protect survivors. Todd Spitzer failed that most basic duty, choosing instead to politicize this case and use the survivors as scapegoats. I commend the Attorney General for endeavoring to hold Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley accountable in the void left by our current District Attorney.

“DA Spitzer accused survivors of sexual assault of lying and actively attempted to sabotage this case. Indeed he is the first District Attorney in California history to be kicked off of a case by a judge because of his unethical treatment of survivors of sexual assault. Spitzer’s failure to hold sexual predators accountable leaves our communities at-risk.

“Amid previous allegations of pay-to-play corruption, I am deeply concerned by the documented financial ties between DA Todd Spitzer and the defense attorney in this case. This, combined with Spitzer’s creation of a culture of fear and intimidation amid sexual harassment complaints from within his office, make clear that victims of sexual violence in Orange County have no protector or advocate in District Attorney Todd Spitzer.”

Pete Hardin is a former Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy District Attorney, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and one of Southern California’s leading litigators running for Orange County District Attorney. Pete entered public service when, in 2005, he earned his commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. A combat veteran, Pete served in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012 as a member of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Pete is a member of the Democratic Party.

Current Orange County District Attorney, Republican Todd Spitzer’s tenure has been defined by scandal. Four women in Spitzer’s office have filed claims asserting Spitzer had been told the best man at his wedding had allegedly sexually harassed District Attorney staff before Spitzer promoted him. Spitzer also attempted to drop sexual assault charges against high-profile defendants leading a judge to remove Spitzer from the case.

Spitzer has been involved in an evidence booking scandal, a jailhouse informant scandal, and has defamed a victim of OC’s deadliest mass shooting as retaliation for peaceful protest. Spitzer has also defended a DNA collection program known informally as “Spit and Acquit” that coerces defendants to give up their DNA to law enforcement, a practice the ACLU has called “unconstitutional.”

Orange County’s rapidly changing electorate has led Democrats to now outnumber Republicans in Orange County holding a 4.1% voter registration advantage.