Fairfax Prosecutor Accused of Blocking Congressional Probe into Favoritism for Undocumented Defendants

Members of the House Judiciary Committee, led by Jim Jordan and Tom McClintock, have accused Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano of obstructing their inquiry into whether his office gives illegal-alien defendants more lenient deals than U.S. citizens. The chairs argue that Descano’s claim of no congressional oversight contradicts Supreme Court rulings that grant Congress wide investigative powers, particularly when federal immigration interests are at stake.

Their letters, sent in January, June and again this week, demand policy documents and case records. The issue resurfaced after a May hearing on the murder of Stephanie Minter, allegedly committed by undocumented Sierra Leonean Abdul Jalloh, whose earlier charges were repeatedly dropped. Lawmakers also cited instances where Descano allegedly facilitated plea bargains for an undocumented teen-rape suspect and dismissed kidnapping charges against another illegal-alien offender. The committee maintains that such practices could violate federal immigration and civil-rights statutes.