Texas Congressman Chip Roy is demanding answers from Travis County District Attorney José Garza, alleging that internal office policies are prioritizing “criminal leniency” over public safety.
In a scathing letter sent Thursday, Roy pointed to a 2023 internal memo that he claims instructs prosecutors to go easy on defendants by considering their personal circumstances—like housing and immigration status—rather than the severity of their crimes.
The confrontation comes exactly one month after a mass shooting on West Sixth Street left three dead and 14 wounded. While the gunman in that case was not arrested in Travis County, Roy used the tragedy to highlight what he describes as a “dangerous, unjust, and anarchic” environment in Austin created by Garza’s leadership.
According to data cited by the Congressman, the Travis County DA’s office dismissed or rejected roughly 12,700 felony charges during Garza’s first two years in office. More than 3,600 of those cases involved violent, sexual, or weapons-related offenses. Roy also highlighted a 105 percent spike in property crimes between 2020 and 2021, noting that 2025 ended with record-high burglary rates.
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“The purpose of a prosecutor is to ensure that criminality is punished sufficiently to prevent its repetition,” Roy wrote. “It should be a primary goal of your office to decrease recidivism, not incentivize it.”
The August 15, 2023, memo at the center of the dispute reportedly tells Assistant District Attorneys to consider “collateral consequences” of a conviction, such as how a sentence might affect a defendant’s job or licensing. It also suggests that sentencing enhancements for repeat offenders should only be used if the defendant previously served prison time for a similar offense—a move Roy argues protects career criminals.
The letter also brings to light several high-profile administrative failures. An investigation revealed that since 2021, over 100 felony cases saw bonds lowered or charges dropped because Garza’s office missed indictment deadlines. In one instance, a murder suspect’s bond was slashed from $1 million to just $1.
Roy’s letter specifically named individuals like Kanady Arkangelo Rimijo, a man with a 17-year arrest record who was allegedly involved in a fentanyl distribution ring linked to 79 overdoses.
Despite his history, Roy claims Rimijo’s charges were reduced, allowing him to remain in the community. He also mentioned Caleb Jenkins, who was recently charged with murder after the DA’s office allegedly declined to prosecute three previous illegal firearms cases against him.
“Upholding law and order and securing justice for victims should be the priority, not implementing policies that undermine public safety,” Roy stated.
The Congressman has given Garza until April 17 to provide full copies of all policy directives issued since 2021 and to explain whether the office uses demographic or socioeconomic classifications when making charging decisions. Garza, who has been a frequent target of conservative lawmakers for his progressive approach to prosecution, has not yet issued a formal response to the inquiry.
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