Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, will have a hearing before the parole board in June. This marks a crucial step in their fight for clemency after being convicted in the 1989 double murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Parole Hearings Scheduled: Erik and Lyle Menendez will each have a hearing on June 13, 2025, where the parole board will assess whether they pose a risk to public safety if released.
Clemency Review Process: Newsom stated in a podcast that the parole board’s independent report will be used to determine whether the brothers' sentences should be reconsidered for clemency. This report will also factor into Newsom’s final decision on whether to support their clemency request.
For over 30 years, Erik and Lyle Menendez have been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. However, they’ve recently renewed their push for clemency, claiming that new evidence proves they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, Jose Menendez. This new evidence includes a letter Erik Menendez wrote about the abuse, as well as statements from Roy Rosselló, a former Menudo band member, who alleges that he, too, was sexually assaulted by Jose Menendez.
In addition to seeking clemency, the brothers are pursuing a resentencing hearing that could potentially reduce their life sentences to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole. This development comes after former District Attorney George Gascón recommended reconsidering their sentences.
Menendez brothers’ pursuit of freedom has encountered significant opposition from current Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. On Monday, Hochman filed a motion to oppose the resentencing request, arguing that the brothers have never fully accepted responsibility for the murders.
In his motion, Hochman described the brothers’ defense of self-defense as a "lie" that has lasted over three decades. He argues that their story of fearing for their lives from their parents does not hold up, stating that their claims of abuse do not justify their violent actions.
Hochman’s motion also counters the claims of sexual abuse, stating that these allegations should not be the focus of the case. He argues that the central issue remains the act of murder itself, not the brothers’ history of alleged abuse. To support their self-defense argument, the brothers would need to prove that they feared for their lives at the time of the killings, something Hochman believes they have failed to do.
In addition to the clemency and resentencing requests, the brothers’ defense team has filed a habeas corpus petition, seeking a new trial based on the new evidence of abuse. Hochman has also opposed this petition, reinforcing his stance that the original convictions should stand.
The petition includes the claims of sexual abuse, and the brothers’ legal team argues that this new information could have influenced the jury's verdict. However, Hochman believes that the core issue was not the abuse but the act of murder.
Governor Gavin Newsom has shown interest in reviewing the clemency request, though he has made it clear that there is no guarantee of a positive outcome. In February, Newsom requested the parole board conduct a risk assessment to determine if the Menendez brothers would pose a threat to society if released.
"There is no guarantee of outcome here," Newsom said in his podcast. "But this [assessment] process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case."
The risk assessment report from the parole board will play a critical role in Newsom’s final decision on the brothers' clemency request. He has emphasized that he will carefully review the report before making his determination.
The Menendez brothers’ path to freedom remains uncertain, with multiple legal challenges ahead. As their clemency hearing approaches in June, the outcome will hinge on the parole board’s assessment of their risk to public safety, as well as the ongoing legal debates surrounding the validity of their self-defense claims and the new evidence of abuse.
With District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s opposition to their clemency and resentencing requests, the Menendez brothers face a tough legal battle. Their story remains one of the most discussed criminal cases in modern American history, with future developments likely to continue to captivate public interest.
