Steve Cortes, President of the League of American Workers, has criticized Democratic bail reform policies, claiming they allow violent repeat offenders to cycle through the justice system, resulting in deadly consequences for innocent victims. Cortes made this statement to Old North News.
“Fourteen arrests. Fourteen releases. Fourteen warnings ignored,” said Cortes. “And the Democrats still shrug and defend their failed bail scam. Who pays the price? Innocent women on a train. Criminals walk free, victims die, and the ruling class dares to lecture us about compassion.”
Decarlos Brown is accused of fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train in August 2025. According to reports, Brown had been arrested and released at least 14 times prior to the attack. State Representative Marcia Morey defended the bail system, asserting there was “no correlation” between Brown’s repeated releases and the murder.
Iryna Zarutska, aged 23, was a Ukrainian refugee residing in Charlotte at the time of her murder. Mecklenburg County data indicates that Charlotte’s violent crime rate has been a persistent public safety concern, with homicides increasing from 92 in 2019 to 118 in 2023. This trend underscores the strain on the local justice system.
A study conducted in 2024 on bail reform found that repeat violent offenders pose significant risks when released pretrial. The paper concluded that bail reform measures, including cash bail elimination, are strongly correlated with higher rates of reoffending and threats to community safety. These findings contribute to an ongoing national debate on the consequences of such policies.
Cortes is also known as the Founder and President of the League of American Workers and serves as a senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He previously held positions as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and is recognized as a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly publishes documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.
