Three of New York’s top elected officials appeared surprised Thursday when pressed about a House Judiciary Committee report alleging local prosecutors intentionally downgraded charges against noncitizens to protect them from deportation.

During a Manhattan press conference, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez faced questions regarding claims that city prosecutors altered or reduced charges to help noncitizens avoid convictions that would trigger removal.

"Did any of you order prosecutors to downgrade gun charges to keep illegal immigrants in the U. S., per the Judiciary Committee report?" a reporter asked.

MANHUNT UNDERWAY FOR VIOLENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO WAS RELEASED UNDER NYC SANCTUARY POLICIES

Katz threw her hands up and shrugged in response, the New York Post reported.

"Our answer couldn’t help it," Katz said, before a speaker redirected the room, asking for "any other on-topic questions" and moving the news conference along.

"We charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest possible charge under the law," a spokesperson for Katz's office told Fox News Digital. 

The news conference exchange followed the release of a 22-page congressional report detailing widespread practices across New York City prosecutors' offices.

According to the document, Katz's office employs an "Immigration Specialist" to help negotiate "immigration-safe" plea deals and reduce past convictions.

DOJ OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO SOROS-BACKED DA ACCUSED OF SHIELDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CONSEQUENCES

The report also cited a 2022 memorandum from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg allegedly instructing prosecutors to seek dispositions that avoid deportation consequences for all misdemeanors and non-carceral felonies.

In addition, the report states that the office of Bronx DA Darcel Clark trains prosecutors in "Immigration-Conscious Plea Bargaining." That includes offering non-deportable offenses, avoiding aggravated felony charges and using hypothetical or "legally impossible" charges, such as "attempted reckless assault," which lack legal intent requirements.

VIRGINIA SANCTUARY COUNTY IGNORES 1,670 DETAINER REQUESTS OVER 2 YEARS, HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FINDS

Prosecutors were also allegedly instructed to omit critical details from official conviction records, such as gun involvement, domestic relationships or the age of minor victims, to prevent federal immigration authorities from using them as grounds for removal.

After the news conference, a spokesperson for Katz reached out to the Post to deny that leniency is ever shown in weapons cases.

"We charge any defendant with an illegal firearm with the highest possible charge under the law," the spokesperson said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital has reached out to the other four New York city district attorneys' offices for comment.

• New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized DoorDash's $17 billion plan to acquire Instacart.
• Mamdani said the deal could lead to higher prices and worse working conditions.
• The companies say the deal will lead to lower prices and give gig workers more chances to earn money.

Zohran Mamdani is skeptical of DoorDash's $17 billion deal for Instacart.

The New York City mayor denounced the proposed acquisition in a post on X on Thursday, hours after the company announced it.

"Corporate consolidation means higher prices, harsher exploitation, and greater economic inequality for New Yorkers," he wrote.

"We've stood up to these giants before," he added. "That doesn't stop now."

DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said on Thursday that the deal would lead to lower prices and faster delivery times for customers, as well as "more earnings" for the gig workers who make deliveries on the apps.

Mamdani also referenced the City's settlement with DoorDash last month, in which the delivery service agreed to pay $131.5 million to end an investigation into how it paid delivery workers in the city.

The settlement includes returning some of the money to workers. Mamdani and the City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection have taken aim at delivery companies multiple times over the past year, including by enforcing a law requiring the companies to offer customers the option to tip at checkout.

Samuel A.A. Levine, the Department's commissioner, said that the deal "continues a troubling trend of mega-corporations consolidating while working to divide workers and consumers."

"Whether or not this merger proceeds, we will fully enforce delivery workers' rights," Levine added.

Do you have a story idea about Uber, DoorDash, or Instacart? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Ariel Grunberg was unhappy with his appearance at 72 and decided to do something about it.
• He opted for plastic surgery, including a facelift, a lower blepharoplasty, and a neck lift.
• The grandad is pleased with the results, and said some people think he's in his fifties.

This story is based on an interview with Ariel Grunberg, 72, a semi-retired real estate owner and manager from New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My eyes bothered me the most as I got older. I always felt they were drooping too much, and if I didn't do anything about them, they would cover my vision.

One of the turning points was attending a presentation when the speaker had eyes similar to mine and peered upward in an exaggerated way.

I remember thinking, "Why doesn't he get them fixed?" Sure enough, when I saw him again, I noticed that he'd had his eyelids lifted. You could see a lot more of his eyes, and he no longer had that mannerism of looking up.

In February 2026, I consulted the New York cosmetic surgeon, Dr. John Layliev, who came highly recommended, to discuss my options. He suggested eye surgery and a brow lift.

As we got talking, I mentioned how much I didn't like my turkey neck, which made me think about my age.

People had remarked about how young and fit I looked — I did triathlons, including a half IronMan — but I was still self-conscious.

The total cost was around $60K

In the end, we settled on a deep plane facelift, neck lift, brow lift, lower blepharoplasty procedure, facial fat grafting, and fat-based liquid rhinoplasty.

I thought that, if I were under anesthesia anyway, I might as well get more than my eyes and brow done. The total cost was around $60,000.

My girlfriend was supportive, but I only told my two daughters about two weeks beforehand. I suspected they'd say I didn't need it, but they said it was up to me.

I'm not the nervous type, so I wasn't worried ahead of the operation on July 31. It took around eight hours, and I stayed in the hospital overnight.

My face felt very stiff afterward, which I'd expected. I had a spinal surgery a year earlier, and my body had temporarily stiffened, too.

There is less of a stigma about men having cosmetic surgery

There was very little pain or puffiness, but I stayed inside for three weeks, though it probably wasn't necessary.

I'm not very good at keeping secrets, and I thought there was no point. There is less of a stigma these days about men and cosmetic surgery.

In fact, I told everyone who cared to listen.

I think the results are exceptional, as I don't have as many wrinkles or as much facial drooping. I recently visited a new dentist, who said I looked 50. A taxi driver guessed my age at 55.

My younger brother used to joke with restaurant waiters when we were together that I was his dad. He can't do that anymore, and it's a good thing.

I'm considering veneers

I know 72 is relatively mature for a facelift, but I feel I'm less likely to need another one in the future. I'm considering veneers on my teeth, but I'll leave it at that.

I didn't go ahead with the surgery for my girlfriend, but she is delighted by my rejuvenated look. The feeling is certainly mutual.

Anti-gun and anti-ICE radicals are breaking laws and quite literally leaving their mark on New York City.

A group of anti-ICE menaces blocked entrances to New York City's Brooklyn Bridge on Wednesday, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Meanwhile, one man is facing charges for allegedly spray-painting over victims' names at the 9/11 memorial.

Both events happened this week in the Big Apple while city leaders have remained quiet on both issues.

MAMDANI DEMANDS TRUMP RELEASE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SHOT BY ICE AGENT AS PROTESTS ERUPT IN THE BRONX

Brooklyn Bridge anti-ICE blockade

The anti-ICE crowd's demonstration was met with frustrated drivers – many of them commuting to work – who were stuck in the gridlock; drivers were seen on video pleading with agitators to gain access to the bridge.

MAMDANI MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH ICE RESULTS IN VIRAL INTERNET BACKLASH: 'TREASON'

One driver was heard saying, "I just want to get to work!"

The radicals were heard on megaphone shouting "NYPD, K-K-K, I-C-E, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME!"

FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS DEPORTATION OF DOMINICAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SHOT BY ICE DURING NYC ARREST ATTEMPT

One person shouted "Free Oscar Bergal!" in response to a recent ICE arrest of the illegal Dominican national that resulted in a shooting in Marble Hill, Manhattan, earlier this month.

Police eventually arrived to arrest and remove the people disrupting traffic.

FBI ARRESTS GEORGIA MAN ACCUSED OF THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAIL AT ATLANTA ICE FACILITY

The bridge caused delays for about an hour when the group showed up at 12:30 in the afternoon, and were eventually arrested and removed by 1:30, according to ABC7.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

The NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital that 14 people were arrested and there were no reported injuries.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor's office for comment.

9/11 Memorial vandalism

Port Authority Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that Johnathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested after he allegedly vandalized the 9/11 Memorial earlier this week.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB

On Monday, a message reading "just stop killing kids" was sprayed across several engraved names on the memorial.

WWII MEMORIAL VANDALISM SUSPECT IN CUSTODY, CHARGED WITH TWO FELONIES, PIRRO SAYS

SEND US A TIP

The suspect was seen in his own self-recorded video spray painting the memorial; his organization "Just Stop Killing Kids" shared the video.

GOT A TIP?

In another post the organization wrote:

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

"On October 26, 2026, Jon Tijerina was arrested for spraying red paint on Freedom Tower in NYC. He is demanding that Trump and Mamdani enforce common-sense, highly popular demands with respect to guns such as Universal Background Checks and a National Gun Registry."

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum told Fox News Digital that security personnel and law enforcement responded quickly and restored the affected area.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection at the heart of a rebuilt World Trade Center that honors the 2,983 victims killed in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks," the spokesperson said in a statement. "This brief incident was swiftly addressed by security staff and law enforcement, and the impacted area was immediately restored to its commemorative state."