Gavin Newsom-appointed judge freed criminal before alleged murder

Key Points:

• Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Nichelle Holmes, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024, released Marcos Iriarte-Valdez on pretrial for residential burglary just one day before he allegedly fatally stabbed retiree Todd Stewart in Martinez, California.
• Iriarte-Valdez, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant with Spanish citizenship who has been in the US since 2007, was arrested again after the stabbing, with bail set at $1.1 million as police continue investigating the motive.
• Surveillance footage shows Iriarte-Valdez attacking Stewart with a knife, continuing the assault even after Stewart was knocked to the ground; Stewart was pronounced dead at the scene.
• The Department of Homeland Security criticized California's sanctuary policies, urging Gov. Newsom to keep Iriarte-Valdez in custody to prevent further crimes and facilitate his removal from the US.
• Judge Holmes, who describes herself as a protester against injustices and racial disparities in the justice system, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the release decision.