In this week’s episode, Jennifer welcomes Seth Aitken, a Fall River attorney and Army veteran currently running for Bristol County District Attorney in Massachusetts. Raised in Swansea, Massachusetts, Seth brings years of legal experience, serving as a former assistant district attorney, recent city administrator for Fall River, and as a criminal defense attorney. With a background in criminal law and public service, Seth is also a family man and a strong believer in leadership as a discipline rooted in mentorship, integrity, and humility.

Jennifer and Seth dive deep into the intersection of politics and public safety. The episode addresses the stark realities facing Massachusetts, from the challenges of prosecutorial staffing and political patronage to high-profile criminal cases like the Karen Read and Lindsay Clancy trials. Seth shares his transformative views on what DA offices must prioritize, lambasts the system's tendency to reward career politicians over community-minded leaders, and explores the pervasive issue of sexual assault on college campuses, spotlighting the Cornell 7 case and the controversial "voluntary intoxication loophole" in New York law. The conversation uncovers Seth’s impassioned take on supporting law enforcement, confronting financial crime, protecting the vulnerable, and why courageous leadership is crucial in today’s justice system.

“It can't be about that, you know, certain powerful people get an opportunity to have access to justice or get to avoid justice, whereas everyone else gets what they get.”
~ Seth Aitken

This week on Political Contessa:

• The role of public service and personal sacrifice in seeking office
• Transitioning from private practice to political candidate
• The dangers of politics-driven DA offices and generational patronage
• The challenge of keeping Massachusetts communities safe
• The impact of understaffed prosecutor’s offices on victims and justice
• Prioritizing leadership, law enforcement support, and financial crimes prosecution
• Examining the failures and injustices highlighted in the Cornell 7 assault case
• Addressing loopholes in sexual assault legislation and advocating for victims
  
  

Connect with Seth Aitken:

• Aitken for District Attorney Website: aitken4da.com
  
  

Resources mentioned:

• Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS)
• Massachusetts Republican Party
• Information on the Law Enforcement Reform Act
• Tim Cruz (Plymouth County District Attorney, referenced for professionalism)

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