Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Progressive Prosecutor Says Voters Are ‘Obtuse’ If They Expect Him To Keep Campaign Promises

[Screenshot/House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement]

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s attorney Steve Descano testified Thursday that voters are “obtuse” if they expect him to fulfill his campaign promises.

Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan got into a heated exchange with Descano after his office removed his immigration policy from his website weeks prior to the hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. Descano said his campaign promises are not actually his policies.

“My policies do not say that we do not prosecute based on immigration status,” Descano said.

“Well if it’s not your policy, then why did you change your website?” Jordan asked.

“Because that’s not my policy. As I told you, sir, that is a campaign statement made before I was Commonwealth attorney … I could not believe that people were so obtuse that they could not realize what the difference between a campaign statement and an actual office policy is,” Descano said.

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Descano’s campaign website said, “Our office will take immigration consequences into account when making charging and plea decisions.” This language has since been removed. Throughout Jordan’s questioning, Descano refused to answer why the statement had been removed shortly before the hearing.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into whether Descano’s office offered preferential treatment to illegal alien defendants and discriminated against American citizens. The investigation stems from information that his office had adopted a Plea Bargaining, Charging Decisions, and Sentencing Policy in 2020 that would “consider immigration consequences where possible” and that “prosecutors shall consider … the collateral immigration consequences of the specific crime(s) the defendant is charged with[.]”

Officials released 23-year-old Marvin Fernando Morales Ortez on Dec. 16, 2025, because Descano chose not to prosecute him for his pending felony malicious wounding charge. Just one day later, Morales Ortiz was charged with second degree murder after allegedly shooting 40-year-old Marvin Ernesto Morales at their shared home in Reston, Virginia.

Authorities in Fairfax County released an illegal alien, Walvin Victor Hugo Garcia, who was then arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on May 1, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Garcia had been arrested and charged in June 2025 with raping a child less than 13 years of age, aggravated sexual battery of a victim younger than 13, use of a computer to commit sex offense with a minor and distributing drugs to a minor.

“Governor Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Fairfax, Virginia refused to cooperate with ICE and RELEASED this child rapist from jail back onto the streets,” DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said. “This criminal illegal alien from Guatemala has been charged with raping a child under 13, aggravated sexual battery of a victim under 13, and distributing drugs to a minor. Thanks to our brave law enforcement, this sicko is out of our communities. Governor Spanberger and Fairfax sanctuary politicians are playing Russian roulette with American lives by releasing criminals from jail into American neighborhoods.”