DA Candidate Drops Out, Supports Hynes Opponent

The race for Brooklyn District Attorney is in serious play for the first time in decades. Abe George, a former Manhattan prosecutor, announced Thursday evening that he was dropping out of the race, and would throw his support behind Kenneth P. Thompson, who is challenging embattled incumbent Charles Hynes for the Democratic nomination this September.

The move assures a one-on-one matchup with the incumbent and clears the path for Mr. Thompson to beat Mr. Hynes amid daily negative headlines.

Mr. Hynes, 78, is facing what could be the toughest battle since he became Brooklyn’s top law enforcement official in 1990. He has been on the defensive for many months, facing criticism for a string of wrongful convictions by his office, and for his handling of child abuse cases in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

During the campaign, Mr. Hynes didn’t hide his disgust for Mr. George. Though, he was hoping for a 3-way race in order to split the anti-incumbent vote.

“Brooklyn can’t afford another four years of Joe Hynes, and I realize that in order to defeat Joe Hynes I must put Brooklyn ahead of my own ambitions,” Mr. George said in a statement. “Today, I am urging all of my supporters to back Ken Thompson for district attorney because together we can begin to clean up the mess Joe Hynes has created in Brooklyn.”

“Ken is a man of integrity and justice who will fight to end the pattern of wrongful convictions and prosecutorial misconduct that has tainted the D.A.’s office.”