Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell, known for her involvement in high-profile cases such as the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, is now embroiled in a public dispute with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the extradition of a murder suspect.
Mitchell, a Republican, took office in 2022 and has garnered bipartisan praise for her work focusing on sex crimes and crimes against children.
The current controversy surrounds the extradition of Raad Almansoori, a 26-year-old accused of killing a reported sex worker in a Manhattan hotel room before fleeing to Arizona, where he allegedly assaulted and stabbed a woman in a McDonald’s restaurant.
Rachel Mitchell (Credits: La Voce di New York)
Mitchell has expressed reluctance to immediately extradite Almansoori to New York, citing concerns about Bragg’s approach to violent criminals.
Bragg’s office has criticized Mitchell, accusing her of “playing political games” and pointing out Phoenix’s higher violent crime rate compared to New York City.
Despite the public dispute, there has been no formal extradition request from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, and there has been no direct communication between Bragg and Mitchell regarding the case.
The situation highlights the complexities of extradition cases and the tensions that can arise between law enforcement officials from different jurisdictions. As the dispute continues, the fate of Raad Almansoori and the handling of his case remain uncertain, pending further developments and potential legal proceedings.
