Former San Francisco supervisor Dan White was acquitted of murder charges in the killings of Harvey Milk and George Moscone on May 21, 1979, in a case that sparked national outrage.
White had resigned from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in November 1978, citing financial difficulties linked to his elected position. Days later, he attempted to withdraw his resignation, but Mayor Moscone declined to reappoint him, reportedly after discussions with Milk.
On November 27, 1978, White entered City Hall through a window to avoid metal detectors and went to Moscone’s office, where he fatally shot the mayor. He later approached Milk, asked to speak with him privately, and also shot him.
The trial gained widespread attention because White’s defense team argued that his mental state had deteriorated due to depression and other factors. Media coverage later labeled it the “Twinkie defense,” though the legal argument was not that snack consumption caused the killings, but rather that changes in behavior, including diet, reflected his declining mental health.
White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter rather than murder and served about five years in prison before being released on parole.
The verdict triggered major protests and unrest across San Francisco, with many critics arguing that justice had not been served.
Milk’s legacy continued long after his death, and in 2021 a Navy vessel was named in his honor, recognizing his service as a Navy veteran.