House Republicans investigate Trump's DC crime data manipulation claims

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) launched an investigation Monday into President Trump's allegations that D.C. crime data is being manipulated by local police leadership.Why it matters: The action comes less than a week after the Justice Department announced a federal probe into the statistics.The Trump administration is facing escalating pushback over the president's decision to frame federal agents' involvement in D.C. as a public safety issue when violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low.What they're saying: "A whistleblower with direct knowledge of internal MPD operations and crime data discussions also informed the Committee that crime statistics were allegedly manipulated on a widespread basis and at the direction of senior MPD officials," Comer wrote in a letter to Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith."While MPD took action against a single District Commander, the issue potentially affects all seven patrol districts, as MPD leadership allegedly instructed Commanders to routinely downgrade charges to artificially lower District crime statistics."Zoom in: Comer noted in his letter that D.C. police had suspended a commander, Michael Pulliam, for allegedly manipulating crime statistics."Media accounts of the incident additionally noted that 'the [police] union claims police supervisors in the department manipulate crime data to make it appear violent crime has fallen considerably compared to last year,'" Comer wrote.His committee is requesting documents and transcribed interviews with the commanders of each of the seven patrol districts in D.C., including with Pulliam.Zoom out: Trump has called the statistics released by the FBI "fake" to justify federal intervention in D.C. and his plans to intervene in other cities.The president has repeatedly said that he's interested in using D.C. as a "test" for operations in other cities and on Sunday raised the ire of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore when he threatened to send troops to Baltimore. Democratic leaders have raised concern over reports that he may target Chicago next.The president has also railed against Democratic-led cities such as Los Angeles, Oakland and New York, calling them "bad, very bad," even though violent crime is down in all of these cities.Go deeper: Trump allegation that D.C. faked crime data spurs Justice Department probe

Comments

World news

Trump administration ‘absolutely forbidden’ from quickly deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, judge says

Independent

Comments

Similar News

House Committee issues subpoena seeking ‘all entries’ from Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book

Canadian grave of general who torched White House in 1814 draws interest amid trade war

Home construction in Ontario is at a ‘standstill,’ housing minister says

Trial begins for man accused of killing 5 by setting fire to boarding house

Australia politics live: Labor sets October start date for expanded first home buyers scheme; house to debate net zero

Australia news live: pro-Palestine marches expected to attract huge turnout; Albanese to target red tape to speed up housing construction

Judge blocks White House from defunding 34 municipalities over ‘sanctuary’ policies

Meta to license AI technology from start-up as in-house models lag rivals

FBI confirms ‘activity’ near John Bolton’s house amid reports of raid

White House, Rubio want better foreign-policy coordination after Argentina snafu with Noem

White House rattled by one Smithsonian painting it claims proves Trump’s ‘out of control’ claims

Trump’s plan to win the House just took a big step forward

B.C. government sets new housing targets for 10 more communities

Trump has bought over US$100M in bonds since returning to White House: docs

House Democrats launch investigation into Paramount merger and ‘bribe’ to Trump

White House tours cancelled to make way for construction of Trump’s ballroom

Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels up 8% in a year, Home Office data shows

Texas house passes redrawn electoral map aiming to help Republicans keep majority in 2026 midterms – US politics live

I sang at the Royal Opera House hours after a miscarriage

Texas House passes redistricting map favoring Republicans

World news

Trump administration ‘absolutely forbidden’ from quickly deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, judge says

Trump wants a reunion with Kim Jong Un - the timing is curious

Coroner’s inquest begins Monday into the death of Brandon Shafer-Kovacs

Family of teen found murdered at Scarborough Town Centre speak out

Jays open homestand with 10-4 rout of Twins

Manitoba’s smoky summer not impacting some outdoor attendances

Desperate plea for runaway fugitive Tom Phillips to return his three children

Lawmakers Visit Syria to Push for Repealing Sanctions Law

New York model left with gruesome stab wounds to face after saving two women from harassers on German tram

Elon Musk accuses Apple and OpenAI of ‘conspiring’ to suppress his rival AI chatbot Grok in antitrust lawsuit

Trump says he is firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook after alleging mortgage fraud

Trump fires Fed governor Lisa Cook

Ukrainian war veterans swim the Bosphorus strait in a triumph over their war injuries

Ukraine is turning warfare into a sci-fi battle of machines - and the West has work to do

Winnipeg Blue Bombers add 2 new receivers after injuries

Alberta health experts warn of possible measles resurgence as kids head back to school

Northern Alberta Medical Program students begin training to strengthen rural health care

Support for electric vehicle mandates softening in B.C., poll suggests

Ukrainian refugees open Smitty’s Restaurant franchise in West Kelowna

Video captures ‘magical moment’ cat lost on B.C. ferry 2 weeks ago reunites with owner

Manitoba man convicted in mail bombing that injured lawyer denied parole

Hero tourist 'stabbed in face' protecting two women on tram in Germany

Jay Slater's mum left furious at eerie move by last person to see him alive in Tenerife

Ukraine's naval band joins Scots Guards for joint performance

Child sex abuse victim begs Elon Musk to remove links to her images

Alberta’s transportation minister meets with Edmontonians on bike lanes

Billionaire and Dr. Oz rally for Edgewood, B.C. ostrich farm ahead of planned cull

Calgary bills Government of Alberta $10M for property tax collection

After Trump and Congress spending cuts, public media stations wait on money for emergency alerts

Illinois man secretly gave woman abortion pills to causes a miscarriage and now faces murder charge, police say

The best way for a Democrat to rehab their image these days? Have Trump attack

Two elderly women rescued from remote cabin hot tub after girls trip goes dangerously wrong

Nancy Mace roasted for posting picture of an alleged campus shooter but it was just a man with an umbrella

House Committee issues subpoena seeking ‘all entries’ from Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book

Trump’s war on the First Amendment is likely to plant a burning flag back on the Supreme Court steps

Boy, 4, drowns after Amish mom threw him in lake ‘to give him to God’ – as his dad drowned testing his own faith

Police report ‘less serious violence’ at Notting Hill Carnival this year

The six areas where 12,000 new homes will be built confirmed

Liverpool’s 16-year-old wonderboy snatches 100th-minute win at Newcastle

Israel Strikes Gaza Hospital Twice

Russia Will Ramp Up Hybrid Warfare if Ukraine Fighting Ends

The Trump administration won’t leave Kilmar Abrego Garcia alone

Trump signs executive order targeting American flag burning

House Republicans investigate Trump's DC crime data manipulation claims

Man wrongly deported from US to El Salvador detained by ICE again

Israel may not be targeting journalists but it is certainly killing a lot of them

Looming end of U.S. ‘de minimis’ tariff exemption ‘catastrophic’ for B.C. business

Police investigating after another Surrey business targeted with gunfire

Two killed on side of highway after crash near The Pas

'How will I pay workers?': Indian factories hit hard by Trump's 50% tariffs

How Taiwan is preparing for Chinese attack with acting, fake blood and mock missile strikes

Canada seeks free trade pact with South American bloc Mercosur in new talks

Canadian grave of general who torched White House in 1814 draws interest amid trade war

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker warns Trump ‘Do not come to Chicago’ with military troops

‘Out here all alone’: Texas health officials’ pleas for help were ignored by CDC as measles cases grew, report says

Spectator struck by ‘rogue drone’ during Macy’s July 4th fireworks show is suing over injuries

Trump says he plans to sue California over redistricting - but Texas is apparently OK