About a month from now, Gov. Gavin Newsom will need to make a final decision on whether the Menendez brothers are suitable for parole.
Prior to the California parole hearings on August 21 and 22, California Governor Sunday spoke with Ryan Murphy, creator of “Monster,” the infamous brother Netflix series “This is Gavin Newsom,” on his podcast.
The first generous hearing will be held alongside the hearing of parole in August as siblings convicted of a shotgun murder of their parents in the 90s.
While revealing to Newsom that he told Newsom he was doing a show about the Menendez brothers before it came out, Murphy said the social media conversation made people realize that they were very interested in the case of the Menendez brothers.
“And you start talking to me about this and you all said, ‘Sorry,'” Newsom said. “And I wasn’t totally grateful for how right you were.”
After its premiere in September 2024, Murphy’s show attracted public attention and pushed for his brother, Res teen, to 50 years in prison.
Newsom said he wasn’t watching the popular Netflix series because he doesn’t want other factors to influence his decision.
“I have kept the temptation to see it, but it’s always been recognized deep inside me that this might hit my desk,” the news told Murphy. “I don’t want to be persuaded by something that doesn’t exist on the file.”
The award-winning showrunner behind “American Horror Story” joked that Newsom could watch the series on Labor Day, as the parole board decision would be made by the end of August.
“I’m going to see if I made the right decision,” Newsom replied with a laugh.
In Sunday’s episode, Newsom also explained that “established standards” determine the suitability of prisoners for parole, including prison behavior and psychiatric assessments.
At lunchtime, Murphy told Newsom that he opposed the release of his brother, but now he changed his mind after being educated by other actors and writers through the creation of the show.
“I really think they should be released,” Murphy said. “I was surprised at how I got into something with such a given perspective and came out at the end of it.”
He said he was moved by the unity of his family and the actions of his brothers in prison for over 30 years.
“If not now, when? What benefits would it bring to society if they could get out of prison and actually serve some good things? I think that’s a powerful thing,” Murphy said.
“The flip side has people say, ‘What do you get from sending a message that you can kill both of your parents and release them?'” Newsom replied.
He added that many other inmates have not received the same resources as the Menendez brothers, who are notoriously derived from the Menendez, including the opportunity for famous supporters to make calls or reach before the parole board.
At the same time, some people who granted parole acted even worse, spending less time behind the bar, according to Newsom.
“It’s a very slippery slope, and it’s a really difficult road and I feel for you,” Murphy said.
The governor also discussed other prominent parole cases, including Leslie Van Houten and other followers of Charles Manson. Newsom’s rejection of Van Gauteng’s parole recommendation was dismissed by the state court of appeals in May 2023.
“The final rejection was overturned by a court that felt we were abusing our discretion in the parole office, and they are tough,” he said.
Houten’s lawyers said in May that it would be difficult to obtain a Newsom signature on the release of Menendez Brothers, even if the brothers were given parole at the hearing.
With the authority to override the parole board, the decision ultimately falls under the governor and approves or rejects the pair’s parole.
“It’s heavy,” Murphy said.
Erik and Lyle’s responsive process began in October, and their writings fell in 50 years in May, and were eligible for parole. Despite their eligibility, they cannot be released from prison without parole board approval and governor review.
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