Newsom Holds Final Power Over Menendez Brothers’ Potential Release

California’s most notorious sibling murder case may soon rest in the hands of Gov. Gavin Newsom, as Erik and Lyle Menendez face parole hearings this week that could determine whether they walk free after more than three decades behind bars.

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The brothers, convicted of killing their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989, became eligible for parole earlier this year after a Los Angeles judge reduced their life-without-parole sentences to terms of 50 years to life. Now, a state parole board will decide whether the two men—who were once infamous symbols of wealth, dysfunction, and violence in Beverly Hills—pose an ongoing threat to society.

But even if the parole board grants them release, their fate won’t be sealed. California law gives the governor the final word, making Newsom the ultimate gatekeeper in one of the most watched parole cases in decades.

A Governor With Veto Power

California is one of only two states where governors can overrule parole board decisions. Newsom has used that authority frequently, often in high-profile cases that drew national attention. He famously blocked parole for Sirhan Sirhan, the assassin of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and for Manson family member Leslie Van Houten before ultimately relenting after a court intervened.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA / PUBLIC DOMAIN

That record suggests that even if the Menendez brothers are deemed fit for release, Newsom’s decision will be anything but automatic.

Newsom’s Approach to the Case

While Newsom has not tipped his hand on how he might rule, he has already ordered risk assessments of the brothers in response to a clemency petition, suggesting a willingness to seriously examine their rehabilitation. Earlier this year, he called the central question “whether these men still present an unreasonable risk to public safety.”

On his podcast in February, Newsom stressed that the review process was designed to increase transparency, but he warned against assuming any outcome: “There’s no guarantee here. We take these cases seriously, and my office reviews dozens of them every year.”

Last month, he hinted he may issue a decision by Labor Day if parole is recommended, underscoring the political and public pressure surrounding the case.

The Stakes

The Menendez brothers’ trial was one of the most sensational of the 1990s, with wall-to-wall television coverage and a media frenzy over their claims of abuse at the hands of their wealthy parents. While they were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, supporters have argued that the abuse they described should have weighed more heavily in sentencing.

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Now in their 50s, the brothers have spent more than half their lives in prison. If released, they would reenter a society that still remembers them as household names.

For Newsom, the case represents a delicate balancing act: between rehabilitation and public safety, between second chances and accountability. His decision—whether to grant or block parole—will not only determine the brothers’ future but will also add another chapter to his legacy of wielding California’s rare gubernatorial veto power over parole.

In the end, the Menendez brothers’ fate may depend less on the parole board’s hearings this week than on the judgment of one man in Sacramento.