Attorneys for Lyle and Erik Menendez said Wednesday that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered the state parole board to investigate whether the brothers would pose a risk to the public if they are released after nearly three decades in prison for the 1989 killing of their parents.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is ordering the parole board to launch an investigation into whether the Menendez brothers pose "an unreasonable risk to the public."

The move is a step toward clemency for the brothers, who have asked a court to take another look at their case amid new sexual assault allegations they say corroborate a history of abuse by their father,

California Governor Gavin Newsom said during the first episode of his new podcast that he has ordered an investigation into whether or not the Menendez brothers are fit to be released. The “risk assessment” will be under the purview of the Los Angeles District Attorney ’s office ahead of the brother’s March 20 and 21 court appearances which will determine if they are to be resentenced for shooting their parents dead in 1989.

Newsom has directed the state parole board to conduct a "risk assessment investigation" of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are serving life-without-parole prison sentences for the shotgun slayings of their parents but have petitioned the governor's office for a pardon or commutation of their sentences.