The Menendez brothers are on the verge of experiencing life beyond prison walls after a groundbreaking decision to lessen their life sentences, positioning the next challenge with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the initial sentences for Erik and Lyle Menendez from life imprisonment to 50 years with the potential for parole.
Jesic’s decision to resentence the Menendez brothers opens the door for a parole hearing to determine whether they should be released.
“The question for the board is simple — do Erik and Lyle Menendez present a current, what we call `unreasonable risk to public safety,'” Newsom previously stated on his podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.”
Newsom’s June 13 parole board hearings are planned to go on as scheduled, and the board will have the opportunity to free the brothers.
No matter what happens with their clemency request, Newsom would still have the final say over whether they should go free.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital Tuesday that Erik and Lyle Menendez “will likely be freed in a matter of months,” adding he does not expect “the parole board or Gov. Newsom” to block their release.
Even if the parole board approves their release, the governor has veto power and could issue a pardon on his own.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
