Fairfax County Prosecutor Descano is facing a DOJ civil rights investigation
Murder victim’s mother Stephanie Minter calls for lenient policies amid DOJ investigation
Cheryl Minter, the mother of slain Stephanie Minter, expresses outrage over her daughter’s murder by an immigrant with a history of violence. Minter reveals that Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano has repeatedly shown sympathy for the suspect. He is responding to news that the DOJ is investigating Descano for giving special treatment to illegal immigrants over citizens, stressing the need to put children and American citizens first.
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Soros-funded prosecutor Steve Descano has come under scrutiny again, this time for dismissing a Justice Department investigation into allegations that he gave deals in favor of illegal immigrants, calling it a “partisan attack” on President Donald Trump.
Jennifer Harrison, head of the Victims’ Rights Reform Council, responded to the Fairfax County, Virginia, Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano’s lawsuit by writing to X, “Hey scumbag … This has nothing to do with President Trump and it’s not going to be the fundraising tool you thought it could be – no Soros blood money for you today.”
The DOJ opened a “pattern or practice” civil rights investigation into Descano last week, examining whether his office is violating federal law by weighing “immigration consequences” in charging decisions and plea deals, amid a spate of violent crimes in Fairfax County involving illegal immigrants.
The Victim Rights Reform Council has asked the DOJ to open an investigation on behalf of Cheryl Minter, whose daughter, Stephanie Minter, was stabbed to death at a bus stop earlier this year, allegedly by Abdul Jalloh, 32, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone.
DOJ OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO DA SOROS ALLEGED TO PROTECT HISTORICAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano speaks at an event in Fairfax County, Va. (Sarah Voisin/Getty Images)
Descano responded to the DOJ investigation through spokeswoman Laura Birnbaum, who wrote in a statement that “this investigation is the latest example of the Trump administration’s ‘pattern or practice’ of misusing the Justice Department to launch gang attacks.”
Birnbaum said the DOJ’s “letter announcing the investigation violates the office’s policy,” which he said “has been public for more than five years โ and it happened to come just a week before Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano was scheduled to testify before Congress.”
Descano, whose entry into political office was fueled by a massive $627,653 donation from the Soros family’s Justice and Public Safety PAC, will testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Integrity, Security and Compliance Thursday.
The hearing is called “Fairfax County, Virginia: The Dangerous Consequences of Sanctuary Policies.” County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid will also testify, along with Minter, former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, and Virginia Safe Communities President Sean Kennedy.
DA POLICIES FOR SOROS’ ‘UNBARRED’ ILLEGAL FOODS LEAD TO ‘BARRED’ BUS STOPS STABBING TO KILL: COMPLAINT
Abdul Jalloh, 32, is accused of killing Stephanie Minter, 41, at a bus stop in Virginia. (Fairfax County Police Department; provided)
Birnbaum emphasized, “Our office policies are fair, legal, and reflect the values โโof Fairfax County.”
He said Descano’s office “will not be distracted from our mission of keeping this community safe and holding people accountable when they commit crimes.”
In response, Harrison said the human rights investigation was initiated after a request from the victim’s loved one.
“Hey scumbag – Cheryl Minter, Stephanie’s mom filed the complaint that started the investigation. I know bc I filed it on her behalf,” Harrison wrote.
He continued, “We also know that your deadly and tragic policies have been in place for a long time – if it weren’t for that Cheryl’s daughter Stephanie would still be alive and that’s why we filed the complaint and asked for this investigation.”
DEM GOVERNOR UNDER FIRE AFTER LAWYER ALLEGED TO KILLING WOMAN AT STOP: ‘HEINOUS’
Harmeet K. Dhillon speaks at the IAC National Summit 2026 at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Fla., on Jan. 17, 2026. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)
In another X post, Harrison called the victim’s mother “an amazing, brave woman,” writing, “We can’t bring Stephanie back but we can make sure this doesn’t happen again out of respect for her.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Descano’s office for comment.
In a press release after Minter’s death, the Department of Homeland Security said Descano’s office had been warned about Jalloh and the danger he posed to the public before Minter’s death.
Last week, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the investigation into Descano will include discussions of his plea, charging decisions and sentencing policies.
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“Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow local prosecutors to pick and choose winners based on their immigration status,” Dhillon said, adding, “This investigation will reveal whether this prosecutor is putting the public at risk by offering sweetheart deals to illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes.”
Fox News Digital has also reached out to the DOJ and the White House for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno and Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.
