Washington’s crime statistics were artificially manipulated to paint a rosier picture of public safety than reality warranted, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro alleged on Wednesday.
Speaking on “America’s Newsroom,” Pirro detailed the findings of a months-long federal investigation that she claims proves the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) significantly understated crime data. The probe, which wrapped up Monday, reportedly reviewed over 6,000 documents and interviewed 50 witnesses, ranging from rank-and-file officers to top brass.
According to Pirro, the investigation discovered a systematic “deflation of numbers” designed to make crime rates appear to be falling when they may not have been.
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“What’s amazing to me is that the U.S. attorney before me in the Biden administration did not go forward with more than 65 percent of the arrests,” Pirro said. “That means that even if police made arrests, they weren’t being prosecuted. In my office, we go forward with over 90 percent of the arrests.”
The announcement strikes at the heart of a heated political debate regarding the true state of safety in the capital. Pirro’s report challenges narratives that crime had naturally receded prior to President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of the MPD in August, which included the deployment of the National Guard.
Official MPD data had previously claimed a 35 percent drop in crime since 2024. However, the federal investigation highlights a significant discrepancy: the MPD statistics allegedly excluded aggravated and felony assaults that did not involve weapons. When the FBI adjusted the figures to include those violent incidents, the decrease in crime shrank to just 10 percent.
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The allegations of data manipulation align with previous statements from within the force. In August, Washington Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton stated that officers had been ordered to misreport specific crimes, including robberies and burglaries, to improve the department’s statistical appearance.
Pirro noted that while the investigation confirms the baseline for crime was higher than reported, the aggressive measures taken since the federal intervention are working.
“The investigation makes it clear President Trump has reduced crime more than originally thought,” Pirro said.
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