Overview

• New law diverts authority from Philadelphia's progressive prosecutor to a new special prosecutor role, with the aim to prosecute crimes on the city's public transit system, SEPTA.
• Republican lawmakers argue the legislation is necessary to prosecute crimes they say aren't pursued, while Democratic Philadelphia district attorney, Larry Krasner, calls it an 'attack on democracy'.
• The bill's primary sponsor, Sen. Wayne Langerholc, a Republican, insists the special prosecutor would pick and choose what crimes to pursue, and that the district attorney's office would still handle the rest.
• Krasner claims the new legislation is unconstitutional and disenfranchises voters, and is awaiting a decision from the attorney general's office before challenging the law in court.
• The law is active through 2026, which coincides with the end of Krasner's current term.