The fact-check, written by Jill Terreri Ramos, rated DeSantis’ comment as “True” despite adding that Bragg’s practice was “done more often” within the area.
“DeSantis claimed that Bragg has downgraded ‘over 50% of the felonies to misdemeanors.’ Data from Bragg’s website confirms that 52% of felonies that were screened by prosecutors were downgraded to misdemeanors in 2022, the first year Bragg was in office. 2023 data show that so far, 54% of felonies have been downgraded to misdemeanors,” Ramos wrote.
She continued, “Experts said that downgrading charges is a common practice and that it was done more often in three of New York’s other boroughs, according to state data from 2021. We rate this claim True.”