The Justice Department has initiated an investigation into crime report data from Washington, DC, triggered by President Trump’s confrontations with city leaders regarding a police takeover.
This investigation is spearheaded by the US Attorney’s Office in DC, the same office that earlier this year reported that violent crime in the city had reached a 30-year low.
Trump asserts that crime rates in the capital are worse than the public data suggests, despite city officials sharing statistics that indicate a drop in various crime categories. This marks a notable decrease since a spike in 2023.
The president has made sweeping claims about violent crime to justify the deployment of the National Guard in the area, even as public sentiment largely opposes this move and many residents do not view crime as a serious issue.
“D.C. gave false crime numbers to create false illusions of safety,” Trump stated on social media earlier this week.
The investigation follows the suspension of a former district police commander, who was accused of manipulating data related to violent crime, according to reports from last month.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the inquiry during a Fox News interview but noted it was unclear whether the issue extended beyond a single officer.
“Well, no. I can’t say for sure if that goes further, but, as you suggested, we’re looking into this,” he said. “The reality is, DC has been an incredibly unsafe place to live for a long time.”
“It’s not surprising to see reports suggesting DC is safer than what residents actually experience,” Blanche added. “So, we’re investigating that, and hopefully, we’ll reach a conclusion soon.”
The DC police union, which supported Trump’s military initiative, expressed skepticism regarding the city’s crime statistics.
According to city-released figures, violent crime has decreased by 27% and property crime by 4% from 2024 to this year. The comparison between 2023 and 2024 reveals an even more significant drop, with violent crime falling by 35% and property crime by 11%.
The Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did U.S. law firms or Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office.
