Oregon?s progressive Gov. Brown clemency push comes amid spike in violent crime

Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.With violent crime on the rise in big cities around the country, Oregon’s progressive governor is pioneering the power of executive clemency, prompting an outcry from prosecutors in her state charged with putting dangerous criminals behind bars."This is the massive release of violent criminals through a process, which violates the legal requirements of law," said Kevin Mannix, the president of Common Sense for Oregon and the lawyer whose firm is bringing a lawsuit against Gov. Kate Brown on behalf of two district attorneys and the families of three murder victims.In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, police statistics show 85 homicides in 2021, up from 57 in 2020. BROWN GRANTS CLEMENCYAccording to Cornell Law School, a writ of mandamus is a court order for a government official to "properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion."In addition to failing to properly notify victims’ families, the suit alleges, the governor unlawfully delegated her clemency powers to state agencies, including the Oregon Board of Parole."She’s turning herself into a super-legislature, which is across the board suddenly lowering sentences," Mannix said. His brother, Cayche French, has served 14 years on a 25-to-life sentence.A spokesperson for Brown last week told Fox News Digital that the governor "takes every effort" to get input from the victims of crime before granting clemency.The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.Michael Ruiz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.