ProTrump Legal Group Requests Information from DC Police
A legal group affiliated with ProTrump, established by Stephen Miller, submitted a FOIA request on Thursday aimed at examining what they claim are manipulated crime statistics by high-ranking administration officials. This request seeks to obtain a comprehensive range of criminal records and data from the DC Metropolitan Police Department.
The America First Legal Foundation (AFL) initiative asks for various documents from the DC police, including internal communications and emails that suggest any changes to how crimes are reported or tracked. They also want access to unpublished crime statistics and data.
This inquiry is part of a broader investigation that kicked off just days after President Donald Trump signed an order to temporarily federalize parts of DC, deploying the National Guard to help manage law enforcement for the city.
The AFL’s FOIA request includes a demand for all communications related to Michael Pulliam, a DC police officer who was put on administrative leave in May following allegations of altering crime data to depict lower crime rates.
Trump’s Order on Crime Faces Legal Challenges
Puliam previously led District 3 of the Metropolitan Police, covering areas like Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights. The scrutiny surrounding his case has become politically charged, with Trump officials arguing that it demonstrates attempts to distort crime statistics in Washington, D.C.
In the wake of the AFL’s investigation, President Trump and his aides have criticized what they see as an alarming rise in crime, asserting that the official statistics do not accurately reflect the reality on the ground. Recently, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described Washington, D.C. as “more violent than Baghdad.”
The AFL’s lead attorney expressed concerns about ongoing violent crime, suggesting that there may have been intentional alterations to official crime stats to present a safer image of the city. Scolinos, the attorney, reiterated that President Trump is focused on improving safety in the nation’s capital, contrasting this with claims from the left that D.C. is adequately secure.
In an executive order on August 11, Trump labeled the crime situation in D.C. a “crime emergency.” By invoking a section of the DC Home Rules Act, the order states that federal oversight of local police is crucial for maintaining order in the capital, especially concerning federal property and institutions.
Investigations Continue Amid Controversy
During the announcement of the investigation, the AFL referenced a report detailing a settlement involving a former police sergeant who had alleged that crime classifications were mismanaged by MPD officials in 2020. Although this settlement was not part of the AFL’s FOIA request, it raises further questions about the reliability of the statistics in question.
While D.C. officials indicate that a drop in violent crime statistics might be overstated, they firmly reject the idea that there’s a deliberate effort to manipulate data. Mayor Muriel Bowser recently stated that a review of MPD crime data showed fewer victims of violent crime for the year compared to previous reports.
Bowser described comparisons of D.C. crime to that seen in war-torn nations as exaggerated and misleading, emphasizing the complexity of the situation.
The America First Legal Foundation, not officially a part of Trump’s administration, was launched by advisors close to him. Stephen Miller resigned from the foundation before resuming his role in the White House.
