A Republican took to the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday to torch Democrats for supporting policies (and prosecutors) that allow repeat criminals – and particularly those of the violent and/or illegal kind – to waltz out of jail with a slap on the wrist, free to roam the streets for their next victim.
Del. Tom Garrett (R-Buckingham) absolutely lit up his colleagues across the aisle, saying he was done biting his tongue over the insane policies pushed by the left that are hurting, even killing, Virginians. Garrett was infuriated over the tragic, and completely preventable, death of Stephanie Minter, a 41-year-old mother from Fredericksburg who was stabbed to death last week in a Fairfax County bus shelter. Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone, was arrested for her murder.
It turns out that Jalloh, as Garrett noted, was very familiar to both the Fairfax County police and to the county's commonwealth's attorney, uber-lefty Soros guy Steve Descano. As RedState previously reported, Descano had let Abdul Jalloh walk at least 30 times for crimes such as malicious wounding, sexual assault, drug possession, and identity theft. The illegal entered the country in 2012 and was issued a final removal order in 2020, but Fairfax County officials failed to notify federal authorities on the numerous occasions they released him back into the community.
READ MORE: VA Mother Brutally Murdered at Bus Stop After Soros Prosecutor Let Violent Illegal Walk 30 Times
How to Get Away With Murder in Virginia (VIP)
The story gets much worse. Garrett, referring to the excellent reporting being done by WJLA's Nick Minock, alerted the chamber to the fact that Fairfax police had warned prosecutor Descano's office last November that Jalloh was a danger to the community. Major J. Mauro of the Mount Vernon District wrote "it is not a question of if, but rather when he will maliciously wound (or worse) again."
That letter was sent exactly 100 days before the murder of Stephanie Minter. Needless to say, Descano ignored it and and allowed Jalloh to remain free to commit even more crimes and, allegedly, murder.
Fairfax County police repeatedly warned Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office about how dangerous Abdul Jalloh was before Stephanie Minter’s murder.
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) March 4, 2026
In November, a police major told Descano’s office, “Jenna, Good morning. I hope things are well. I wanted… https://t.co/ouqkJPgvPD pic.twitter.com/E8bFmNMBuY
Fairfax County police repeatedly warned Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office about how dangerous Abdul Jalloh was before Stephanie Minter’s murder.
In November, a police major told Descano’s office, “Jenna, Good morning. I hope things are well. I wanted to bring Mr. Jalloh’s release to your attention, because Mr. Jalloh is one of the repeat (and violent) offenders we discussed when we met. I wanted to get your background on why he is out so soon and ask if his prior suspended sentence (of | believe 5 years) was pursued by your office? Unfortunately, based on MTV Station’s numerous dealings with him, it is not a question of if, but rather when he will maliciously wound (or worse) again. My role of keeping the public safe, prompts me to follow up on his status.”
Del. Garrett was rightly incensed over the series of events that apparently led to Stephanie Minter being taken away from her family. He noted that several Democrats from northern Virginia, where Minter's murder took place, voted just yesterday in favor of ending Virginia's cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and requiring law enforcement officers to refrain from wearing masks when making arrests.
🚨WATCH: Virginia Del. Tom Garrett blasted Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano not only for Stephanie Minter’s murder, but for treating illegal immigrants better than American citizens.
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) March 5, 2026
Garrett referenced WJLA’s past reporting about Descano’s immigration policy:
“Wherever… pic.twitter.com/AvFigrxns2
WATCH: Virginia Del. Tom Garrett blasted Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano not only for Stephanie Minter’s murder, but for treating illegal immigrants better than American citizens.
Garrett referenced WJLA’s past reporting about Descano’s immigration policy:
“Wherever possible, Steve will make charging and plea decisions that limit or avoid immigration consequences,” Descano’s website states.
Descano has dropped charges against multiple illegal immigrants so they could avoid deportation.
Descano repeatedly dropped charges against Abdul Jalloh before he was charged with murdering Minter at a bus stop. DHS says Jalloh is an illegal alien. And police repeatedly warned Descano’s office about how dangerous he was.
A clearly-disgusted Garrett excoriated Fairfax County for giving "better" treatment to illegals than it does ordinary citizens, saying Stephanie Minter would still be alive if our immigration laws were enforced. He said the Stephanie Minter now joins Laken Riley and Rachel Morin, among others, as high-profile victims of illegal alien crime – women whose names should be front and center in Richmond every time Democrats start rambling about “compassion,” “equity,” and “criminal justice reform.”
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
Help us fight back against the Democrats and Soros-backed DAs that refuse to enforce our laws to hold criminals accountable. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member