By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

For the first time since President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., district leaders squared off with congressional lawmakers regarding the government’s oversight of the city, and the exchange got heated at times.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, Attorney General Brian Schwalb, and Phil Mendelson, chairman of the District of Columbia Council, appeared before the committee. Mendelson testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the district’s oversight.

Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., touted the president’s “historic crackdown,” which has resulted in a decline in crime, including a 75% drop in carjackings, a 57% decline in robberies, and an overall 39% decrease in violent crime.

While Republicans pointed to the district’s progressive policies as contributors to the crime crisis, Democrats pointed to funding cuts. Some tried deflecting to Trump and the Epstein files.

Comer said that the district’s crime has been “largely driven by historically high rates of juvenile crime,” blaming the D.C. Council for enacting “ultra-progressive, soft-on-crime policies.”

The congressman cited the Council’s 2018 amended Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act, allowing individuals 24 years of age and younger to be prosecuted as juveniles “for many even violent crimes, leading to more lenient sentences.”

“The D.C. Council also passed laws in recent years that lowered statutory penalties for violent crimes, eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes except first-degree murder, and eliminated life sentences entirely,” said Comer.

Both Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for low morale and low numbers within the Metropolitan Police Department, with Comer saying that laws passed by the Council have ‘hampered’ law enforcement from going after criminals.

Democrats, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, argue that Congress’s lack of funding for the district has left MPD understaffed.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., turned the tables on Trump, displaying the alleged birthday message from the president to Jeffrey Epstein, while saying the president has abused his power by deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles and deporting people “without due process.”

“If the majority today wants to talk about crime in D.C., in the district, we’re happy to talk about crime in D.C. We know that some of the worst crime and corruption in D.C. is actually found at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave,” said Garcia.

Bowser avoided blaming the administration, instead focusing on funding issues and another popular theme among Democrats: the D.C. statehood debate.

The hearing got heated when Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, got into a tense exchange with Mendelson.

Jordan asked the chairman about allegations from D.C. Fraternal Order of Police’s Greggory Pemberton, who said that when police responded to felony crimes, a captain or lieutenant would direct officers to report the crimes as lesser offenses, prompting an ongoing investigation within the department.

Jordan bluntly asked, “Are you cooking the books?”

“I think we’re not, but I also know that there are a couple investigations,” Mendelson responded.

“You just settled a case where someone said you were cooking the books. Is that right?” the congressman asked.

Mendelson told Jordan he couldn’t speak to the case and wasn’t familiar with it.

“We know it was settled. It’s been reported,” said Jordan.

“I do know there are collateral statistics, statistics that affirm the reduction,” Mendelson responded.

Jordan asked if he thought the FOP and Pemberton were lying. Mendelson responded, “yes.”

Democrats and district officials shifted the blame for funding cuts onto Republicans and the Trump administration, citing a billion-dollar loss that has tightened the public safety belt.

In response, Comer used the opportunity to pressure Democratic congressional members to support the Republicans’ proposed continual resolution, which includes the $1 billion funding. The chairman asked them if they would vote for the measure on Friday.

The hearing comes as a slew of legislation is working its way through Congress, targeting the district, specifically related to crime and prosecution. The slate of legislation is forcing district leaders to fight for their limited autonomy granted by the D.C. Home Rule Act.