The decision in the Menendez brothers' case will not be influenced by politics, says prosecutor Gascon

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón expressed frustration with critics who describe his interest in the Menendez brothers' case as purely political.

“We have been dealing with this case for over a year, about a year and a half with the (habeas corpus petition) and since the beginning of this year with the resentencing,” Gascón said Wednesday after an event in Sylmar.

Critics claim Gascón is using the high-profile case to save his re-election.

RELATED: Los Angeles District Attorney Gascón will comment on the Menendez brothers' resentencing this week

Legal expert Lou Shapiro said Gascón's new interest in the Menendez brothers is almost certainly related to his re-election campaign.

“There's a significant base out there that believes that the prison system is overcrowded, that the system is overly punishing people, so I think he's trying to tap into that market,” Shapiro told Eyewitness News.

Mark Geragos, the brothers' attorney, disputes that claim and says Gascón's office was interested in their case long before this month.

“Mr. Gascón's office has been working productively and intensively with us for well over a year,” Geragos said at a news conference last week where several of the brothers' relatives called for their release.

The case of the Menendez brothers: How would resentencing occur?

Lyle and Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills home.

Following the recent release of a true crime drama on Netflix that revisited the murders and trials, interest in the brothers has been renewed.

Gascón said earlier this month that his office was interested in potentially seeking resentencing of the Menendez brothers. He also said his office was reviewing new evidence.

Asked by Eyewitness News on Wednesday when he plans to rule on the case, Gascón said: “Probably sometime tomorrow or Friday at the latest.”

New evidence presented in a petition includes a letter from Erik Menendez that his lawyers say corroborates allegations that he was sexually abused by his father.

Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted they fatally shot their father Jose Menendez, the entertainment executive, and their mother Kitty Menendez in 1989, but said they feared their parents would They kill to prevent the disclosure of Erik's long-term sexual abuse by his father.

Prosecutors at the time claimed there was no evidence of harassment. They said the sons were after their parents' multi-million dollar estate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.