Read Carlos’ statement about his involvement in the Anthony Wright case:
I’m running for DA because we shouldn’t have to choose between reform and safety. That includes more aggressively seeking to exonerate cases where there are wrongful convictions. I was not the lead prosecutor on the Anthony Wright case - the lead prosecutor had been litigating the case for years and the decision was already made by her and her supervisors to proceed with the retrial when I was brought in weeks before the trial. There was evidence pointing to Mr. Wright’s guilt notwithstanding the DNA evidence, and the trial Judge ruled that there was enough evidence for the jury to deliberate and render a verdict. The jury found Mr. Wright not guilty, and I respect their decision. I would also note that I was not named in the disciplinary action which was brought against the lead attorney in this case.
I am on record that I am going to expand the Convictions Integrity Unit to investigate claims more quickly. I have a history of doing just that - exemplified by my work on the George Cortez case. I exonerated Mr. Cortez, who was previously convicted by my colleague, and I found the real killer who then pled guilty.
The Innocence Project filed a disciplinary complaint regarding the Anthony Wright case in 2018 against the lead prosecutor, not me. They never brought my name up until it was politically expedient for Larry Krasner. This is clearly a smear campaign by an incumbent attempting to distract voters from his failed record when homicide rates are at an all-time high in Philadelphia.