Investigation Launched
Federal prosecutors have begun a criminal inquiry into claims that Washington DC police systematically altered crime statistics to make the city appear safer than it is. Sources told the Washington Post, NBC News, and Fox News that the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, is handling the investigation.
Trump Highlights Allegations
The investigation follows comments by former President Donald Trump, who posted on social media that DC had issued “fake crime numbers” to create a “false illusion of safety” and stated that officials were “under serious investigation.”
Origins of the Investigation
The federal inquiry reportedly began after Commander Michael Pulliam was suspended in May by the Metropolitan Police Department for allegedly manipulating crime data. Pulliam denies any wrongdoing. Prosecutors are now examining whether multiple police officers and city officials may have been involved.
Conflicting Crime Reports
Mayor Muriel Bowser has cited police data showing a 27% drop in violent crime over the past year and reported a 35% reduction in 2024 to argue against federal intervention in DC policing. Meanwhile, DC police union chief Gregg Pemberton—who favors federal oversight—dismissed both sets of numbers as “preposterous,” emphasizing that officers see a much higher level of crime firsthand.
Union Perspective on Street Crime
Pemberton told NBC News Washington that officers respond to numerous incidents, including robberies, carjackings, stabbings, and shootings, across the city. “Crime is ubiquitous in every quadrant of the city,” he said, highlighting a disconnect between official reports and the experiences of law enforcement on the ground.
