Trump allegation that D.C. faked crime data spurs Justice Department probe
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U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro with President Trump during a press conference on Aug. 11. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Justice Department is investigating the Washington, D.C., police to determine if the department has manipulated data to make crime numbers appear lower than they are, according to multiple outlets.
Why it matters: The criminal probe reflects an escalation of the Trump administration's tactics to exert unprecedented control over the nation's capital, amid broad reporting that the city is not experiencing an outbreak in violent crime.
- The federal prosecutor's office in D.C., led by Trump ally and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, is leading the investigation.
By the numbers: D.C. crime hit a 30-year low in 2024, according to a January report from the DOJ.
- Violent crime is down 27% across the city when compared to last year, according to a local police dashboard.
Neither the Justice Department nor the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. responded to Axios' request for comment.
Catch up quick: The Metropolitan Police Department put a D.C. police commander, Michael Pulliam, on paid leave in May after allegedly changing the crime data in his district, NBC Washington reported.
- The local police union claimed supervisors manipulate data to make violent crime in the city appear to be falling, when compared to the previous year.
- The union chairperson said that management tends to show up to crime scenes to tell arresting officers to downgrade felony offenses to lower charges, according to NBC Washington.
- Pulliam did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
What they're saying: "D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety," Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday morning.
- "This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!" the president continues in the post.
Zoom out: Trump has said that his initial objectives in D.C. were to crack down on violent crime and to reduce homelessness in the city, but his approach has attracted criticism from local residents.
- The administration's efforts to sweep homeless encampments have drawn ire from advocates who say the city has limited shelter space and that forced relocation could separate unhoused people from their health care, personal items and families.
