Trump Justice Department Investigates Alleged Manipulation of Crime Data by Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department

The United States Department of Justice is reportedly examining allegations that Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department may have manipulated crime data. Sources familiar with the matter reveal this investigation, led by the U.S. attorney’s office in DC, represents an intensification in the city’s dispute against potential federal law enforcement intervention from the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump seems to acknowledge the ongoing probe through a social media post, claiming, “D.C. has provided misleading crime statistics to create a false sense of security. This is a harmful and risky act, and they are under intense scrutiny for such actions.”

The Justice Department opted not to comment on the investigation, while CNN attempted to obtain comments from Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department.

The inquiry follows reports indicating that a MPD commander was placed on administrative leave due to accusations suggesting the department had been fabricating crime data within one district, misclassifying offenses as less severe than their actual nature.

For months, Trump and other administration officials have criticized the capital city’s Democratic leadership, accusing them of permitting persistent violent crime for years. The deployment of federal law enforcement agents approximately a week ago was justified by the president as a means to counteract purportedly soaring crime rates.

However, city officials contest these claims, and the MPD’s published statistics indicate a near 30% reduction in violent crime compared to the same period last year. Furthermore, in January, the Department of Justice revealed that violent crime had decreased by 35% from the previous year, marking the lowest rate in more than three decades.