Border czar Tom Homan has taken aim at the media, accusing them of underreporting crime in Washington, D.C.
He challenged their narrative that crime in the city has significantly decreased, arguing that the reality on the ground is far different.
According to the Daily Caller, Homan, during his appearance on "Rob Schmitt Tonight," took issue with the media's reliance on local police data, which he claims paints an overly rosy picture of the city's safety.
He argued that by excluding offenses such as felony and aggravated assault from their reports, these media outlets have created a false impression of a 35% decrease in crime since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
"Ive been in law enforcement for 40 years. I wont transit D.C. without a gun," Homan stated. He then issued a challenge to reporters, saying, And any of these reporters that said the crime rate is way down and its safer than they say, I dare any of them: walk the streets of D.C. after dark. If its that safe, go ahead and do it. See how that works out for you.
When asked by host Rob Schmitt about those who attempt to portray crime as improving, Homan was dismissive. He compared them to those who claimed the border was secure while thousands of people crossed it daily. Its the same people who said the border was secure as you and I watched thousands of people cross the border every day they think were idiots, Homan responded. So, you know, anybody that transits D.C., works in D.C. or lives in D.C., they know the truth.
Homan further criticized the selective reporting of crime data by the D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The MPD's "violent crime" data, which showed a decline in 2024, only includes homicide, sex abuse crimes, assault with a dangerous weapon, and robbery. It excludes aggravated assault and felony assault without the use of weapons, despite these being classified as violent offenses under D.C. law and their increasing prevalence, as reported by the FBI.
The FBI's data, which includes a broader range of assaults, shows a less dramatic decrease in violent crime in D.C. - a mere 10% in 2024. This figure is only slightly lower than the 2018 levels. The FBI data also reveals that the number of homicides has remained higher than pre-pandemic levels, except for 2021 when D.C. filed incomplete statistics. Furthermore, the city experienced a 12% increase in aggravated assaults in 2024 compared to 2023, and a 37% increase compared to 2022.
Research from the Rochester Institute of Technology supports Homan's assertions, showing that D.C.'s homicide rate in 2024 was the fourth highest in the nation.
In response to the escalating crime situation, President Donald Trump has sought to increase the presence of federal law enforcement on D.C.'s streets and take control of the local police department. This move follows the assault of an administration staffer during a carjacking incident on August 5.
The President also announced plans to deploy the National Guard to the city's streets, signaling a commitment to restoring law and order in the nation's capital.
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