Kamala Harris’ track record as a prosecutor has been a hot topic for years, but not for the reasons she’d prefer. Despite her attempts to paint herself as a progressive figure in criminal justice reform, there’s a long list of controversial decisions that cast serious doubt on her credibility. From questionable prosecutions to laughably bad judgment, the so-called “top cop” left behind a trail of legal missteps that can’t be ignored. Let’s take a look at some of the most glaring examples.
1. The Officer Espinoza Case: Death Penalty Dodging
One of the earliest moments where Kamala Harris sparked outrage was her decision not to pursue the death penalty against David Hill, who gunned down San Francisco Police Officer Isaac Espinoza in 2004. This was a cold-blooded murder of a police officer, and yet Harris stood by her promise to not seek the death penalty—offending not just the family of the officer, but also many law enforcement officers across the state. Former Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s impassioned speech at Espinoza’s funeral, calling for justice, led to a standing ovation. But Harris? She held firm, sparking a rift between her and the police that lasted throughout her career.
2. Wrongful Conviction: The Jamal Trulove Fiasco
As if sparing a cop-killer wasn’t enough, Harris’ office went on to convict an innocent man, Jamal Trulove, for murder in 2007. This case is a textbook example of prosecutorial misconduct. The key witness flipped her story after watching a reality show on TV and “recognizing” Trulove. Sounds legit, right? Despite the shaky evidence, Trulove was convicted and sentenced to 50 years to life. On appeal, it became clear that the testimony against him was bogus. He was later acquitted and awarded a $13 million settlement for his wrongful conviction. Adding insult to injury, Trulove recalled how Harris laughed when he was convicted. Laughing at an innocent man’s life being ruined—what a legacy!
3. Prosecuting a Mentally Ill Woman—Shot by the Police
Next up in Kamala’s greatest hits is the case of Teresa Sheehan, a mentally ill woman shot multiple times by police. Harris’ office decided the best course of action was to prosecute Sheehan after she survived the shooting. Yes, you read that right—prosecute the mentally ill woman, not the officers who shot her. Sheehan, who was holding a knife and threatening the officers, was shot five times. But instead of ensuring that justice was served, Harris’ office pushed to convict Sheehan, only for a jury to acquit her. Talk about adding insult to injury.
4. Corinthian Colleges: Great Settlement, Questionable Results
In 2013, Harris sued the for-profit Corinthian Colleges, accusing them of misleading students with inflated job placement rates and leaving them saddled with debt. She won a $1.1 billion judgment—sounds great on paper, but the settlement was essentially a default. The company didn’t bother showing up in court, and most of the money never materialized. While the case bolstered her image as a champion against corrupt corporations, the actual relief provided to students was minimal at best. But hey, a win’s a win, right?
5. Mortgage Meltdown: A Hollow Victory
Another feather in Harris’ cap was her role in negotiating a settlement during the mortgage meltdown. She rejected a $4 billion settlement offer from major banks, instead securing a $20 billion deal. Sounds impressive until you realize half of that money went to writing off mortgages on homes that had already been abandoned. Californians received checks as small as $1,400—barely enough to cover rent for a month. Harris touted this as a massive victory, but for struggling homeowners, it was little more than a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
6. Defending the Death Penalty She Opposed
In 1992, Ernest Dewayne Jones was sentenced to death for raping and killing his girlfriend’s mother. Years later, while Jones awaited execution, a federal judge ruled California’s death penalty unconstitutional. You’d think Harris, a staunch opponent of the death penalty, would let that decision stand. Nope. Harris’ office fought to reinstate the death penalty, appealing the judge’s ruling and ultimately prevailing. It’s almost as if Harris’ personal beliefs shift depending on the political winds.
7. Marriage Equality: Playing Both Sides
Kamala Harris often touts her role in legalizing same-sex marriage in California. In 2004, she officiated one of the first same-sex marriages in San Francisco. However, when voters passed Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, Harris initially refused to defend it. While her stand against Prop 8 might sound admirable, critics have pointed out that it was a politically safe position for her at the time. And considering how quickly public opinion was shifting on same-sex marriage, her decision was less about bold leadership and more about jumping on the bandwagon at the right moment.
8. Prison Labor and Harris’ Shocked Reaction
In 2014, it came to light that attorneys from the California Justice Department argued against releasing nonviolent inmates because the state relied on cheap prison labor. These inmates were working as janitors, cooks, and groundskeepers for pennies on the dollar. Harris, supposedly shocked by this revelation, claimed she was unaware her office had made such an argument in court. It’s a convenient excuse, but it raises serious questions about how involved Harris really was in overseeing her own team. Either she was out of the loop, or she just didn’t care.
9. Faking a Confession—Yes, Really
One of the more disturbing cases under Harris’ watch was when a prosecutor in her office faked a confession by altering a transcript. Efrain Velasco-Palacios was charged with sexual abuse, and the prosecutor doctored the transcript to make it seem like Velasco-Palacios had confessed to more serious crimes. When the defense caught the fabrication, Harris’ office argued that the case shouldn’t be dismissed because the prosecutor’s actions weren’t “outrageous.” Fortunately, the court didn’t buy that argument, but the fact that her office even tried to defend such blatant misconduct is chilling.
A Complicated Legacy
Kamala Harris built her career as a “tough-on-crime” prosecutor, but her track record shows a lot more stumbles than triumphs. Whether it’s convicting innocent men, prosecuting mentally ill women, or defending policies she supposedly opposes, Harris’ law enforcement legacy is full of contradictions. Voters deserve to know the full picture, not just the curated narrative her campaign presents. With a history like this, it’s no wonder her time as a prosecutor has become such a contentious issue. It’s not about tough choices—it’s about bad ones.
