Stephanie Minter, a 41-year-old woman, was found stabbed to death at a bus stop in Fairfax County, Virginia in February. Her mother, Cheryl Minter, has launched a petition to remove the county's top prosecutor, Steve Descano, arguing that his office's policies contributed to a preventable death. The accused killer, Abdul Jalloh, had been arrested more than 30 times previously for serious charges including rape, assault and theft, prompting debate over prosecutorial discretion and public safety.

Jalloh is a Sierra Leone national who entered the United States illegally in 2012 and had amassed a lengthy criminal history spanning over 30 arrests. Descano's 2020 plea-bargaining policy instructed prosecutors to consider immigration consequences when making charging and plea decisions. The Justice Department launched an investigation in May into whether Descano's office provided preferential treatment to defendants in the country illegally, though it has reached no conclusions. The House Judiciary Committee Chairman has also subpoenaed Descano for questioning about his office's practices, and Cheryl Minter hopes her petition will drive further scrutiny of these policies.