PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner broke his silence Friday, responding to criticism from Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel over a video Krasner released days after the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia police officer.
Krasner blamed members of the Philadelphia Police Department and what he described as Commissioner Bethel’s inner circle for prompting his public response.
The situation intensified Thursday after federal prosecutors announced the indictment of 35-year-old Eric Lewis, the suspect accused of killing Philadelphia police Sgt. Shane Seiber and critically injuring Officer Hector Rodriguez on Oct. 10.
WATCH: Larry Krasner goes one-on-one with Action News reporter John Paul
Larry Krasner goes one-on-one with Action News reporter John Paul
During a news conference announcing the federal charges, Bethel addressed a video released by Krasner that focused on Lewis’ 2019 acquittal in a murder case. In that video, Krasner partially blamed the police investigation for the acquittal and suggested that some of the conduct involved was potentially criminal.
Bethel called the video inappropriate, particularly given the grief being experienced by the officers’ families and colleagues.
READ MORE | Man accused of shooting 2 Philadelphia police officers indicted by federal grand jury
On Friday, Krasner pushed back against those remarks.
“I have, at many times, appreciated Commissioner Bethel. We have, at times, been able to cooperate effectively,” Krasner said. “I am deeply disappointed that he would stand in front of a camera surrounded by attorneys who did not get up at three in the morning, who did not set aside the needs of their family to help as they do time and time again, and that he would represent that it is a terrible thing to speak to the media before a funeral happens, when that’s exactly what his inner circle did.”
WATCH: DA Krasner holds news conference to address police commissioner’s remarks
DA Krasner fires back after Commissioner Bethel criticizes video following officer’s death
Krasner said he felt compelled to release the video after what he described as misinformation about the 2019 case was circulated following the deadly shooting.
“This is serious stuff. This is troubling stuff,” Krasner said. “As much as I would like not to respond to this character assassination, and that’s what it was, I had no choice.”
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The district attorney alleged that someone within Bethel’s inner circle shared inaccurate information that wrongly blamed his office for Lewis’ acquittal.
“The truth is that the acquittal was the direct result of one of the worst investigations that I’ve seen in nearly 40 years of criminal practice,” said Krasner, speaking about the officer on the 2019 case who has since been fired.
The Fraternal Order of Police has said that it is not representing the officer after he provided false information during an internal affairs investigation.
During his remarks, Krasner also pointed to broader communication problems within city government.
“Sadly, one Philly as City United is not what is happening, and I can only hope that that situation will improve in the future,” he said, referencing Mayor Cherelle Parker’s motto.
In a one-on-one interview, Action News asked if this public spat erodes confidence in the justice system.
“Unfortunately, I think the answer is no and yes. Because the public deserves to know the truth. No, because the family of the officers deserve to know the truth,” Krasner said. “Yes, it’s unfortunate that this conflict is laying out, but for us to pretend there is not a problem? When there is a lack of communication and misinformation, that’s a problem.”
Neither the Philadelphia Police Department nor the Mayor’s Office had publicly responded to Krasner’s latest comments as of Friday evening.
Stay with Action News as we continue to follow this developing story.
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