L.A. County D.A. Says Menendez Bros Should Not Be Resentenced, But It's Irrelevant

12 PM PT -- The family of Erik and Lyle Menendez has hit back after L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said he's asking the court to withdraw the previous district attorney's motion to resentence the famed brothers.

In a statement obtained by TMZ they say ... "District Attorney Hochman made it clear today he is holding Erik, Lyle, and our family hostage."

They also claim Hochman has "blinders" on that prevent him from seeing Erik and Lyle were "repeatedly abused" as kids, making them fear for their lives, and that they have apologized multiple times for murdering their parents.

They say the most "alarming" part is the D.A. is sending a message that young boys who are victims of abuse should not come forward.

The L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman just said he wants to withdraw the prior D.A.'s motion to have the Menendez Brothers resentenced, saying what they did in killing their parents was unforgivable and they have not copped to the various lies they told to cover their tracks.

Hochman went through a litany of lies he says were never retracted by Erik and Lyle, and said that's sufficient to turn thumbs down on a resentencing request. He pointed to the jury rejecting any claim of self defense in the second trial. What Hochman ignored, in the first trial, half the jury rejected murder in favor of manslaughter, based on "imperfect self defense." Hochman did not explain the judge in the second trial rejected "imperfect self defense" so the jury never received that instruction.

The bottom line here ... the whole resentencing motion is irrelevant, because if the judge approved it, the case would go to the parole board. Fact is ... the parole board has the case already at the behest of California Governor Gavin Newsom so there is no need for a resentencing hearing anyway.

As we reported, Cali Governor Gavin Newsom has taken the reins and asked the California Board of Parole Hearings to evaluate the Menendez brothers to determine if they pose a danger to society. The Board will issue its findings and send that on to the Governor, who will then determine if Erik and Lyle should go free.

Newsom just announced Monday he's proposing new regulations that will make it easier for the Parole Board to assess whether prisoners are suitable for parole, which may be good news for Erik and Lyle.