Jeanine Pirro raises concerns over crime linked to Democratic socialist’s primary win

Jeanine Pirro, the former U.S. Attorney for D.C., appeared on Fox & Friends to discuss the primary victory of Democratic Socialist Janesse Lewis George. Pirro voiced worries about George’s opposition to teen curfews and ICE, highlighting that President Trump’s policies had associated with a 23% decrease in overall crime in D.C.

In another development, federal prosecutors have initiated a rare grand jury investigation into the D.C. public school system. The focus is on truancy, graduation rates, and attendance records.

Reported initially by The Washington Post, the inquiry is aimed at examining how young people are overseen in the nation’s capital, as stated by insiders familiar with the situation.

A law enforcement official pointed out that the effort is about “safeguarding youth in the District.”

Teachers and staff from multiple D.C. Public Schools have recently been approached regarding matters like student absences and graduation practices. At least one individual has testified before the panel, with more expected to come forward shortly.

The use of a special grand jury is noteworthy; a judge’s approval is needed to establish such a panel, which can conduct extensive investigations and generate detailed reports, regardless of whether any criminal charges are ultimately filed.

A representative from Jeanine Pirro’s office indicated that they could neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.

The Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser’s office, emphasized their focus on welcoming students and families for a strong start to the new school year. They reiterated their commitment to making all school data public.

Jeanine Pirro has previously linked chronic absenteeism to youth crime, noting at a news conference that authorities can act if teens repeatedly break curfew or do not attend school. She mentioned that her office requested records concerning students with persistent truancy and curfew issues, though the city did not provide them voluntarily.

This investigation surfaces after a previous scandal involving the D.C. school system where diplomas were awarded under questionable circumstances, particularly at Ballou High School. An inquiry in 2018 revealed that many students who graduated in 2017 did not fulfill the necessary requirements for diplomas. Despite efforts to tighten attendance regulations, absenteeism has remained a significant issue. During the 2023-24 school year, nearly 16,000 D.C. Public Schools students were considered truant due to missing at least two weeks of classes without justification.

As this special grand jury examination unfolds, D.C.’s school system, which caters to over 50,000 students, is entering a new academic year.