Washington, D.C
DC takes step to end child marriage, aiming to protect minors from trafficking – WTOP News
In a significant move to protect minors and align with neighboring states, the D.C. Council held a legislative hearing Monday on the Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.
In a significant move to protect minors and align with neighboring states, the D.C. Council held a legislative hearing Monday on the Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto, aims to address the alarming reality that, unlike its mid-Atlantic counterparts, child marriage is still legal in D.C.
“The 2016 reform in Virginia that limited child marriage led to an uptick in Virginia resident minors being married in Maryland the next year before they passed their reform. And so as we see other states who have ended child marriage — Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, all the way up and down, I-95 — eyes are going to be shifting more and more onto D.C. as the place where these minors can be brought for marriage unless we do something about it,” said Alex Goyette, an expert on child marriage legislation, during the meeting.
“I think that speaks to the time-sensitive nature of getting this protection passed as soon as we can,” Pinto said.
The hearing featured testimonies from a diverse array of survivors of child marriage and experts from renowned organizations, including the Tahirih Justice Center, the D.C. Rape Crisis Center and the Person Center.
“Right now, the federal government does not set any minimum age to petition for a foreign spouse, fiance, to be the beneficiary of a spousal or fiance visa,” said Lul Mohamud, the executive director of the Person Center.
“Instead, it refers to state law, and that means that right here in D.C., right now, a girl aged 16 or 17 can legally be trafficked for her citizenship, forced to marry an adult man overseas so that he can get a visa and a path to citizenship,” she added.
She also shared her personal experiences, shedding light on the profound impacts of child marriage.
“The sad truth is that when someone is forced to marry, their own parent almost always plays a crucial role in facilitating it. We have worked with girls who showed up sobbing at the clerk’s office, begging for help. In that scenario, there is nothing the girl can do, nothing the clerk or anyone else can do. The parent signs the form and that child is married off,” Mohamud said.
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Felony warning issued as arrests reported at Reflecting Pool
Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
WASHINGTON – Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
The warning comes after authorities reported multiple arrests Saturday involving people accused of removing material from the Reflecting Pool.
Algae, paint problems plague Reflecting Pool
What we know:
While officials have not released the exact number of arrests or identified those taken into custody, law enforcement agencies said anyone caught taking paint chips or debris from the site could face serious criminal penalties.
Visitors have reported seeing blue paint chips floating in the water as cleanup crews use mobile draining machines to remove algae and restore the pool. The unusual appearance of the Reflecting Pool has attracted large crowds to the National Mall in recent days, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that work on the Reflecting Pool would begin immediately and claimed several arrests had been made in connection with what he described as deliberate sabotage of the site.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific charges filed in the reported arrests. However, federal officials warned that removing government property from the Reflecting Pool could result in felony charges, and prosecutors could pursue more serious offenses if evidence shows anyone intentionally contaminated the water or caused additional damage.
READ MORE: Reflecting Pool looks ‘like vomit,’ visitors say; crews continue cleaning job
“If there are more serious products that are put into the Reflecting Pool to create more algae or a bigger problem, then we’ll consider more serious charges,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told Fox News. “But make no mistake, making D.C. beautiful is a priority and if you damage, vandalize or do anything to impact something like the Reflecting Pool, you can be prosecuted.”
What’s next:
The Reflecting Pool remains under active cleanup as officials investigate the cause of the algae bloom, according to the president.
According to federal contract data, a more extensive renovation, including potentially draining the pool again, could cost more than $14 million.
The Source: Information from FOX 5 D.C. reporting, President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and other federal officials.
Washington, D.C
Jeanine Pirro vows DC Reflecting Pool vandals will be ‘prosecuted to the fullest extent’ | Fox News Video
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to discuss vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the broader issue of crime in the nation’s capital.
: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro joins Peter Doocy to discuss the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism after a $14 million renovation. Pirro addresses President Trump’s accusations against ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for tampering with the pool. She emphasizes Trump’s commitment to making D.C. safe and beautiful by prosecuting all violations of law, including minor crimes, to foster respect.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Northwest Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Third District officers responded around 10:08 p.m. to the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW after receiving reports of a shooting.
ALSO SEE | Man dies after early-morning shooting in DC’s Shaw neighborhood
When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
D.C. Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and took both victims to hospitals for treatment. Authorities said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators have not released a description of any suspects, and no arrests have been announced as of Sunday.
READ ALSO | Suspect in Shaw Metro fatal shooting of AU grad appears in D.C. Superior Court
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 202-727-9099 or submit anonymous tips by texting 50411.
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