Attorney General Pam Bondi is making it clear: violent repeat offenders will no longer get a free pass in Trump’s America. On Tuesday, Bondi announced federal prosecution of Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, the career criminal accused of brutally murdering 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who came here seeking safety.
“Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” Bondi posted on X. “We are seeking the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
FBI Director Kash Patel called the attack “a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,” adding that the Bureau “immediately surged into action to ensure justice is served.” Patel praised President Trump’s commitment to restoring public safety, thanking Bondi for delivering the federal charges that will keep Brown behind bars for life.
The case has sparked outrage across the country, with lawmakers demanding accountability for judges who repeatedly released Brown back onto the streets. Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) said he will introduce legislation to “hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also weighed in, saying taxpayer dollars should not fund cities that can’t keep public transit safe.
President Trump spoke directly to Zarutska’s grieving family: “They’re evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country.”