Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday that he does not support the resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, arguing that the brothers have repeatedly lied about their motivations for the 1989 murders of their parents. The Menendez brothers, who were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life without parole, have been seeking a new sentence following renewed claims of sexual abuse by their father, entertainment executive José Menendez.

Hochman said his opposition is based on the brothers' failure to take “full responsibility” for their crimes. He pointed to their shifting explanations, from initially denying involvement to later claiming they acted in self-defense. “They have lied to everyone for the last 30 years,” Hochman stated. He argued that the facts of the case, which showed premeditation and an effort to stage the killings as a gang-related hit, do not align with their defense narrative.

A resentencing hearing is scheduled for March, and the brothers’ legal team has the support of much of their extended family. The Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a group advocating for their release, criticized Hochman’s stance, stating that the brothers have shown remorse and rehabilitation over the past three decades.

Hochman compared the Menendez brothers’ case to that of Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. Sirhan, like the Menendez brothers, was found to be a low-risk inmate and had many letters of support advocating for his release. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom blocked Sirhan’s parole in 2022, citing concerns about public safety. Hochman suggested that, like Sirhan, the Menendez brothers have not taken full responsibility for their crimes, making them ineligible for a lighter sentence.

The resentencing effort had gained momentum under Hochman’s predecessor, former District Attorney George Gascón, who had recommended a sentence of 50 years to life, which would have made the brothers immediately eligible for parole. Hochman dismissed Gascón’s recommendation as a “desperate political move” before the election.

In addition to the resentencing request, the Menendez brothers have petitioned for clemency from Governor Newsom. The governor has not yet commented on Hochman’s decision, but last month, he ordered the California Parole Board to assess whether the brothers would pose a public safety risk if released.

Newsom also announced Monday that he is proposing a new parole board process that could allow for broader sentence reductions, similar to the review process the Menendez brothers are undergoing.

Supporters of Erik and Lyle Menendez, including their cousins, have pushed back against Hochman’s opposition. Tamara Goodall, a cousin of the brothers, recently called for Hochman’s removal from the case, arguing that he is biased against them. Hochman rejected that claim, stating, “I will follow the facts and the law wherever they take us.”

While Hochman acknowledged that the brothers have participated in rehabilitation programs, earned advanced degrees, and received positive inmate risk assessments, he maintained that he would only support resentencing if they fully admit to lying and “come clean with the court, the public, and their own family.”

The upcoming March hearing will determine whether the Menendez brothers’ efforts for resentencing gain traction, or if Hochman’s opposition signals another legal setback for their case.