Staff Reports
An interim report from the House Judiciary found that Biden-Harris policies have made American communities less safe, leading to an increase in violent crime in major American cities. The report blamed policies like the “defund the police” movement, leniency by Democrat district attorneys, and a failure to enforce existing firearms laws for the surge in crime. The report interviewed crime victims, law enforcement officials, and residents to understand how these Left-leaning policies are affecting everyday Americans.
The report highlighted budget cuts to police departments in cities like New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, which saw significant reductions in funding starting around 2020. For example, NYC cut its police funding by $1 billion and Chicago cut its police department budget by $80 million. These cuts have been linked to an increase in violent crime and a decrease in community safety.
🚨This isn’t just about Steve Bannon—it’s about thousands of lives that have been affected. Black and Hispanic communities see the damage as men remain in prison because @VP Harris refuses to enforce a the First Step Act law that could restore hope to these communities. pic.twitter.com/6wercn9Pph
— Grace Chong 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) October 23, 2024
The report also criticized liberal district attorneys like Alvin Bragg in New York and Kim Foxx in Cook County for being soft on crime. These DAs have been hesitant to prosecute cases, leading to thousands of felony cases being dismissed, including serious crimes like murder and sex offenses. The report highlighted the need for stricter pretrial release policies for dangerous individuals charged with violent crimes to ensure public safety.
Republicans in the House unanimously supported legislative reforms to address the rise in violent crime, including bills to support law enforcement recruitment efforts and to address attacks on law enforcement officers. However, the report noted that 55 Democrats opposed one of the bills addressing law enforcement welfare. The Senate has yet to consider these bills.
Former FBI agent Steve Friend raised concerns about the FBI manipulating crime statistics to downplay the increase in violent crime. He alleged that the FBI selectively collected data to make it appear as if violent crime was decreasing when, in reality, it was on the rise. Recent adjustments to the FBI’s crime statistics revealed that offenses actually increased by 4.5%, contradicting the initial reports of a decrease in crime.
Editorial: The House Judiciary report underscores the importance of supporting law enforcement and implementing tough-on-crime policies to ensure public safety. The findings highlight the dangers of progressive policies that prioritize leniency over accountability, ultimately putting communities at risk. It is imperative for lawmakers to prioritize the safety and security of American citizens by providing adequate resources to law enforcement and enacting legislation to address the root causes of rising crime rates.
