Fairfax Liberal DA Accused of Going Soft on Illegal Immigrant Offenders

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson · May 8, 2026 · 14m · transcript

Federal Investigation Launched:

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano over allegations of civil rights violations tied to prosecutorial practices.

Core Allegation — Preferential Treatment:

The investigation centers on whether Descano’s office gave more lenient treatment to non-citizen (undocumented) defendants, particularly in:

Plea bargains

Charging decisions

Sentencing recommendations

Policy Under Scrutiny:

A reported policy from 2020 directed prosecutors to consider immigration consequences (like…