McConnell knocks DC officials over crime in city

Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday known as out native officers in Washington, D.C., for latest spikes in crime within the metropolis. 

Talking from the Senate ground, McConnell famous the latest rise in crime in main U.S. cities, together with Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and his hometown of Louisville, Ky. 

“Streets, neighborhoods, and cities throughout our nation are being swamped by a degree of crime that’s unsafe, uncivilized and unacceptable,” McConnell mentioned in his speech. “My hometown of Louisville, Ky., noticed 10 homicides in simply the primary 10 days of 2023, and already 5 extra since then.” 

McConnell additionally spoke about what he known as a latest crime wave in D.C., referring to it as a “free for all” and noting the rise within the metropolis’s murder fee and up to date carjackings which were reported within the metropolis, together with one wherein Capitol Cops on Wednesday arrested two 18-year-olds who have been tied to plenty of armed automobile thefts in a neighboring county. 

Capitol Police mentioned in a information launch that the 2 suspects have been arrested by authorities after hiding in an out of doors restaurant freezer. They face plenty of prices. 

“But the D.C. Metropolis Council right here is so fully captured by the woke far left, they’ve responded to this crime wave with a brand new legal code that reduces penalties even additional!” McConnell mentioned, additionally noting how the D.C. Council voted 12-1 to override a veto from Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) final week, pushing ahead reforms to the legal code that may create sweeping adjustments.

The invoice will take impact in 2025, based on CBS affiliate WUSA. 

“Final week, the Council overrode the mayor’s veto and pushed by way of a measure that shreds the utmost punishment for gun crimes. It eliminates nearly all necessary minimal sentences,” McConnell added. “It should clog up the court docket system with large expansions of latest jury trials for misdemeanors.”

“Properly, the excellent news on this entrance is that america Congress will get to have the ultimate phrase over reckless native insurance policies from the D.C. authorities. Senate Republicans may have much more to say on this topic. Keep tuned,” McConnell concluded.