Investigation Launched
Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into claims that Washington DC police may have deliberately altered crime statistics to present the city as safer than it is. Reports from Washington Post, NBC News, and Fox News say the probe is being handled by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro.
Trump Weighs In
Former President Donald Trump referenced the investigation on social media, stating that DC had produced “fake crime numbers” to give the public a misleading sense of safety, and noted that officials were now facing a “serious investigation.”
Origins of the Probe
The inquiry reportedly began after Metropolitan Police Commander Michael Pulliam was suspended in May over accusations of falsifying crime data, which he denies. Prosecutors are now looking into possible involvement by additional officers and city personnel.
Conflicting Crime Statistics
Mayor Muriel Bowser has cited official figures indicating a 27% decline in violent crime over the past year and a 35% drop in 2024, using this data to oppose federal oversight of the city’s police. Meanwhile, DC police union president Gregg Pemberton—who supports federal intervention—called both sets of statistics “unrealistic,” arguing that officers see a much higher level of crime firsthand.
Union Perspective
Pemberton told NBC News Washington that officers respond constantly to incidents including robberies, carjackings, stabbings, and shootings. “Crime is widespread in every part of the city,” he said, highlighting the difference between reported data and the reality on the streets.
