One Year Ago Today (September 24, 2022)…A prominent deputy district attorney who successfully prosecuted rapper Nipsey Hussle’s killer reveals he is now being transferred from the prestigious Major Crimes Division to oversee misdemeanor cases in East Los Angeles. He believes this is in retaliation for his criticism of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón and his policies.
“This is a feeble attempt to remove me from the public eye,” said Deputy DA John McKinney in an interview with City News Service. “There is no reasonable explanation other than retaliation.”
Meanwhile, his colleagues, prosecutor John Lewin, known for his work on the Robert Durst trial, and Jason Lustig, the former assistant head deputy in Long Beach, are also being reassigned to low-level roles for supporting Gascón’s recall and expressing criticism. McKinney made this known through his Twitter account while also urging him to run for District Attorney in 2024.
In an interview with L.A.’s NBC4, Lewin, who will now handle routine cases in Inglewood, said, “I was clearly transferred because very early on I chose to speak up about the disastrous nature of many of George Gascón’s policies in internal memos, office discussions, the press, and social media.”
However, Tiffiny Blacknell, the district attorney’s special adviser, denied any demotion and stated that personnel transfers are routine within the office.
“We strongly disagree with the idea that only those currently assigned to the Major Crimes Division are capable of handling challenging cases,” Blacknell said in a statement. “We have exceptional attorneys in every branch of this department with the skills and experience to handle major crimes prosecutions.
“All of our lawyers should have the opportunity to be part of special units to further develop their skills. The Major Crimes Division isn’t the only place where challenging cases are handled. Every victim deserves a highly skilled prosecutor, not just the ones making headlines.”
Earlier this year, McKinney garnered media attention as the prosecutor in the trial of Eric Ronald Holder Jr., who was charged with the shooting death of Nipsey Hussle in 2019. Holder is currently awaiting sentencing.
McKinney has also recently prosecuted cases involving other serious crimes, including murder and violent crime sprees. These cases demonstrate his expertise and commitment to justice.
Furthermore, McKinney supported former DA Jackie Lacey in her failed re-election campaign in 2020 and had expressed his own intention to run for district attorney should the second recall attempt against Gascón be successful, which ultimately failed last month. He is now contemplating running for district attorney in 2024.
“They see me as a political rival,” McKinney stated. “As I gained prominence at a statewide level, I think it made him feel insecure.”
With 24 years of experience in the office, McKinney has spent a significant portion of his career in the Major Crimes Division. He intends to file a grievance regarding his transfer, stating that moving to misdemeanor cases is a significant setback.
While it is uncertain whether Gascón himself orchestrated the transfers of McKinney and Lewin, McKinney believes the DA was at least informed about the decisions.
Lewin, who received recognition for his exceptional work as a prosecutor, also expressed his belief that his transfer was not a coincidence in an interview with NBC4.
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