Miyares report alleges misconduct, violations by Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has released an investigative report alleging misconduct, constitutional violations, and systemic failures within the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office under Steve Descano.

The report outlines years of alleged documented issues, including repeated Brady and discovery violations, improper plea deals, and policies Miyares says jeopardize public safety and ignore victims’ rights.

Allegations of misconduct

"Justice isn’t optional, and our laws are not suggestions. Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano has betrayed the rule of law and the very people he swore to protect, turning prosecutorial discretion into deliberate, weaponized incompetence," Miyares said in a statement. 

What they're saying:

"The oath prosecutors take to uphold the law and protect victims is sacred. It demands courage, integrity, and perseverance in the pursuit of justice. That means treating victims with fairness, dignity, and respect, and enforcing the laws passed by the people’s elected representatives," he said.

"When a prosecutor refuses to do that, victims are denied justice and the public loses faith in the very system meant to protect them. This is dangerous, this is wrong, and it cannot continue," he added.

The other side:

In a statement to FOX 5 DC, Descano responded to Miyares' investigation, calling it a "sad, last-ditch political stunt by a man who's about to lose an election."

"[Miyares'] lies, half-truths, and distortions don't change the fact that voters elected me twice to run our justice system this way, and in doing so we've kept Fairfax the safest large county of its size in the country," Descano said. "If the AG doesn't like how we do things here he's welcome to run for Commonmwealth's Attorney."