Caitlyn Jenner Called Out For First Political Gaffe Of Her CA Gubernatorial Campaign – Updated

UPDATED with latest: San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced charges on Monday against a man accused of murdering a child in his care. The case gained national attention over the weekend when the San Francisco Chronicle posted a story on the case and California gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner blamed current Governor Gavin Newsom. Jenner Tweeted: “Gavin’s District Attorneys across California are releasing dangerous criminals back on to our streets.” More on that in our previous post below.

Monday afternoon, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin issued the following statement on the case:

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A recent opinion column in the San Francisco Chronicle has caused confusion about the District Attorney’s Office’s policy in charging domestic violence. To be clear, the Office charges cases even when a complaining witness does not cooperate, so long as the case can be proven otherwise.

“The death of Baby S is a tragedy. We are so deeply sorry for the family, whose enormous grief we can only imagine,” said San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. “My office has filed murder charges and we will put every resource at our disposal into prosecuting this case. We know nothing can make the family whole again, but we will work our hardest to make sure there is justice. Please know that our office is mourning with and for you.”

PREVIOUSLY at 12:43 p.m.: Over the weekend as some in Hollywood were focused on the Oscars, reality TV star turned California gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner made what Politico in its Monday morning Political Playbook email called “her first major campaign gaffe.”

Jenner on Saturday took to Twitter to express outrage over the news in a San Francisco Chronicle article about a man arrested for murder in the death of a child he’d been watching. The man had reportedly been arrested twice before for felony domestic violence but not charged because the women he allegedly assaulted did not cooperate. According to the Chronicle, the San Francisco District Attorney’s office said there was nothing it could do. But Kathy Black, who runs a shelter in city for domestic violence victims, felt otherwise.

“Domestic violence is a crime against the state of California, and the district attorney’s job is to work with what the Police Department has gathered at the crime scene and develop the evidence to present a case. That’s his job — it’s not the victim’s job,” Black told the Chronicle.

Looking to make a political point, Jenner tweeted a response to the story’s author that pinned the blame on California Governor Gavin Newsom. “This is horrible and also avoidable,” Jenner wrote. “Gavin’s District Attorneys across California are releasing dangerous criminals back on to our streets. Enough is enough. #RecallGavin”

Retweeting Jenner, California Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu quickly pointed out that D.A.s in the state are elected by the people, not appointed by the governor. He went on to question Jenner’s knowledge of basic civics saying, “Also, do you know how a bill becomes a law?” before tweeting a link to the famous “I’m just a bill” Schoolhouse Rock video.

Jenner then fired back saying she knows D.A.s are elected, but “as the CEO of the state, the buck stops with Newsom.” She also condemned Lieu’s “condescending tone”

Lieu, who represents many of L.A.’s affluent Westside communities, responded saying that he didn’t believe Jenner’s claim she knew about D.A.s and elections. Lieu then said that her comment was condescending to those local officials.

It is interesting to note that Jenner hastagged the “RecallNewsom” mantra. While Gavin Newsom is indeed headed for a recall election, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is also facing a recall effort. Curious that Jenner did not raise the visibility of that local effort among her 3.5 million Twitter followers.

Politico California Playbook writer Carla Marinucci also pointed out that “@GavinNewsom did not endorse current SF DA @ChesaBoudin referenced here by @Caitlyn_Jenner; he endorsed opponent @SuzyLoftus.” Oops.

Lieu was not the only political type who weighed in. California GOP operative Robert J. Molnar responded to Jenner’s tweet with: “District Attorneys do not work for Gavin. Politics 101. Lesson is over for today. Good luck!”

Veteran CA Democratic strategist Gary South was even more pointed. Addressing the writer of the original Chronicle story he called Jenner “an uninformed idiot,” promising she would “expose more of her embarrassing ignorance as the campaign moves on.”

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