Criminal Inquiry Underway
Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into allegations that Washington DC police intentionally distorted crime figures to make the city appear safer than it really is. Sources told the Washington Post, NBC News, and Fox News that the probe is being led by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia under Jeanine Pirro.
Trump Comments on the Situation
The investigation follows social media posts from former President Donald Trump, who accused DC officials of issuing “fake crime numbers” to create a “false illusion of safety” and stated that the city’s officials were “under serious investigation.”
Trigger for the Probe
The inquiry reportedly began after Commander Michael Pulliam was suspended in May by the Metropolitan Police Department over accusations of altering crime records. Pulliam denies any wrongdoing. Federal prosecutors are now reviewing potential misconduct involving several police officers and city officials.
Discrepancies in Crime Data
Mayor Muriel Bowser has cited official police reports showing a 27% drop in violent crime over the past year and a 35% decline in 2024, using these numbers to resist calls for federal control of the city’s police. Meanwhile, DC police union chief Gregg Pemberton, who supports federal oversight, called both sets of statistics “preposterous,” insisting that officers witness far higher crime rates firsthand.
Union’s View on Daily Crime
Pemberton told NBC News Washington that officers respond to constant incidents, from robberies and carjackings to stabbings and shootings. “Crime is present in every part of the city,” he said, highlighting a gap between official figures and the reality experienced by law enforcement on the streets.
