Current:Home > MarketsRepublican prosecutor in Arizona takes swipe at New York district attorney prosecuting Trump -BrightFuture Investments
Republican prosecutor in Arizona takes swipe at New York district attorney prosecuting Trump
View
Date:2025-04-12 17:03:54
PHOENIX (AP) — The Republican prosecutor of Arizona’s most populous county took a thinly veiled swipe at a Democratic counterpart in the East on Wednesday, saying she would not agree to extradition of a suspect in the death of a woman who was fatally bludgeoned in a New York City hotel room, and that he should be tried first in Arizona for stabbing two women here.
Raad Almansoori, 26, is being held without bond while Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell’s office decides how to charge him in connection with the stabbing of two women in the county in recent days, Mitchell said at a news conference. Those two women survived.
“Having observed the treatment of violent criminals in the New York area by Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, I think it’s safer to keep him here and keep him in custody,” said Mitchell, referring to the prosecutor who brought the high-profile case against former President Donald Trump alleging that hush money was paid during his 2016 campaign to cover up an affair.
Both Mitchell and Bragg are elected officials.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office responded swiftly.
“It is deeply disturbing that D.A. Mitchell is playing political games in a murder investigation,” Manhattan D.A. spokesperson Emily Tuttle said in a statement. “It is a slap in the face to them and to the victim in our case to refuse to allow us to seek justice and full accountability for a New Yorker’s death.”
The statement said the office is “serious about New Yorkers’ safety,” adding that homicides are down 24% since Bragg took office. Tuttle said New York’s homicide rate is less than half that of Phoenix’s.
Later Wednesday, Mitchell’s office said that under Arizona law “all pending criminal matters in Arizona are to be resolved first before extradition to the outside state occurs.”
Almansoori was arrested on Sunday in the stabbing attack earlier that day of a female employee in a bathroom at a McDonald’s restaurant in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise. He had also been sought in the stabbing of another woman during a robbery attempt in the Phoenix area a day earlier. Authorities say he was driving a stolen car at the time of his arrest.
Almansoori was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, aggravated assault and theft of means of transportation. No records for lawyers representing Almansoori could be found online Wednesday afternoon.
Bragg, a Democrat and Manhattan’s first Black district attorney, has faced a torrent of criticism from Republicans over his prosecutorial decisions.
Some critics have attacked him and distorted his record for bringing charges against Trump. He has also faced backlash for his office’s decision not to prosecute certain low-level offenses. Laws passed in New York in 2019, the year before Bragg took office, also restrict the use of bail for misdemeanors and some nonviolent felonies. Neither the bail laws nor Bragg’s internal policy have any bearing on the treatment of suspects charged with murder.
New York City police officials said Tuesday that they wanted to extradite Almansoori in the Feb. 8 killing of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, in a hotel in lower Manhattan. The DA’s office said charges in New York aren’t officially filed until someone is extradited and appears in court.
Police officials in Maricopa County said Almansoori had family in the area and had lived there in the past.
Oleas-Arancibia was found by staff on the floor of the hotel room. Her death was determined to have been caused by blunt force trauma to the head, and a broken clothes iron was found at the scene, police said.
In coordination with the FBI, New York officials are looking to see if Almansoori could have any connection to crimes committed in Florida and Texas, where he also previously lived and has been arrested.
___
Associated Press writers Jake Offenhartz and Maysoon Khan in New York contributed to this report.
veryGood! (79392)
Related
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Mindy Kaling Teams Up With Andie for Cute Summer Camp-Inspired Swimsuits You Can Shop Now
- A Florida law blocking treatment for transgender children is thrown out by a federal judge
- Over 1.2 million Good Earth light bars recalled after multiple fires, 1 customer death
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- The 10 Best Sexy Perfumes That’ll Immediately Score You a Second Date
- Radio host Dan Patrick: 'I don't think Caitlin Clark is one of the 12 best players right now'
- How many points did Caitlin Clark score tonight? No. 1 pick and Fever silenced by Sun
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Union: 4 Florida police officers indicted for 2019 shootout that left UPS driver and passerby dead
Ranking
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- What we know about the raid that rescued 4 Israeli hostages from Gaza
- TikToker Miranda Derrick Says Her Life Is In Danger After Dancing for the Devil Cult Allegations
- North Carolina State channeling Jim Valvano all the way to College World Series
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Dozens arrested in new pro-Palestinian protests at University of California, Los Angeles
- Evangelical Texas pastor Tony Evans steps down from church due to unnamed 'sin'
- You really can't get too many strawberries in your diet. Here's why.
Recommendation
Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
Michigan couple, attorney announced as winners of $842.4 million Powerball jackpot
Missouri man set to be executed for ex-lover's murder says he didn't do it
Federal agreement paves way for closer scrutiny of burgeoning AI industry
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
4 US college instructors teaching at Chinese university attacked at a public park
Gayle King Shares TMI Confession About Oprah's Recent Hospitalization
Singer sues hospital, says staff thought he was mentally ill and wasn’t member of Four Tops