D.C. mayor stands by as Congress intervenes in crime law

Congress is nearer to overturning a D.C. regulation for the primary time since 1991, after the Home on Thursday permitted blocking controversial reforms to town’s legal code. And Mayor Muriel Bowser is perhaps nice with that.

Why it issues: Ultimately, 31 Democrats joined the GOP-led effort to overturn the legal code reform, which reduces some most penalties for violent crimes. It was a stunning bipartisan intervention in native affairs at a time of heightened Republican strain on the District.

The intrigue: Despite the fact that Bowser has publicly mentioned she opposes Congress meddling within the District, her workplace didn’t attempt to foyer members of Congress to dissuade them from intervening.

• That’s as a result of Bowser has been a vocal critic of the reforms permitted by the D.C. Council, unsuccessfully vetoing the laws final month and lately proposing adjustments to sections that increase jury trials for misdemeanors and scale back sentences.

“It’s not as much as the mayor to foyer for one thing she doesn’t imagine in,” a supply acquainted with Bowser’s pondering mentioned.

State of play: Republicans are more and more utilizing the subject of crime round Capitol Hill and throughout town as reasoning to intervene in D.C.

Democrats who joined Republicans included Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, who hours earlier than the vote was attacked contained in the elevator of her upscale house constructing in Northeast, in accordance with her workplace and a D.C. police report.

• A person punched her within the face and grabbed her neck, the report mentioned, and she or he escaped after throwing her cup of espresso at him. The assault isn’t believed to be politically motivated. D.C. police on Thursday night time arrested Kendrick Hamlin, 26, and charged him with easy assault.
• An announcement from Craig chief of employees Nick Coe mentioned the consultant is “grateful to the DC Metropolitan Police Division for his or her fast response.”

What they’re saying: “I’m very inspired that 31 of my Democrat colleagues supported my frequent sense decision,” mentioned Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), who can also be drafting a invoice to repeal D.C.’s self-governance.

Between the strains: The extent of bipartisan assist for overturning D.C. legal guidelines marks a brand new low level within the latest historical past of native autonomy.

The Home additionally voted to overturn a invoice giving noncitizen residents the fitting to vote in D.C. elections. That motion garnered 42 Democrats in assist, together with Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

• She was the only Democrat within the Maryland or Virginia congressional delegation to vote in favor of one of many GOP-led interventions.

What’s subsequent: The Senate has to approve the Home’s actions, and it might want President Biden’s signature to take impact. The White Home has already mentioned it’s in opposition.

Editor’s be aware: This story has been corrected to indicate that Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger was the one Democrat (not the one member) within the Maryland or Virginia congressional delegation to vote in favor of one of many GOP-led interventions.