In a recent episode of The Hill's "Rising" television show, host Jessica Burbank sparked a debate over the tragic death of former Trump administration official Mike Gill, suggesting that his demise could have been an assassination linked to his role on the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
Burbank described Gill's position as "dangerous business," raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Gill, a former chief of staff of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and later senior vice president at the Housing Policy Council, was fatally shot during a carjacking spree in Washington, D.C., on January 29. The incident has reignited discussions about the city's escalating crime rates and the efficacy of its law enforcement strategies.
During the television segment, Burbank and co-host Amber Duke engaged in a dialogue about D.C. Attorney General Brian Shwalb's stance on the city's crime problem. Shwalb has asserted that the city cannot simply "prosecute and arrest" its way out of the crisis, a viewpoint that Burbank appeared to support.
Burbank questioned whether Gill's murder was "organized or random," before aligning herself with Shwalb's perspective on crime reduction. She argued that factors beyond law enforcement, such as education, employment, and access to resources, play a significant role in crime prevention.
"That guy that was a commodities futures trader dangerous business. Who knows if it was organized or random? But I kind of like this approach, it seems to be the right approach to me, given that the data shows that when people are comfortable, have access to resources, are receiving a good education, have a stable job is that they don't commit crimes as much," Burbank said.
Burbank's comments were met with skepticism from Duke, who questioned whether she was serious in suggesting that Gill's profession made him a target. Burbank reiterated her belief that commodities future trading is a "dangerous business," but refrained from definitively linking Gill's profession to his death.
The suspect in Gill's murder, 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, allegedly embarked on a carjacking spree within the city, shooting another man following his encounter with Gill. Cunningham was later shot by authorities during an encounter with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In the wake of these events, D.C. residents and community leaders, including Shwalb, convened to discuss the city's crime surge. Shwalb reiterated his belief in a preventative approach to crime, emphasizing the need to surround young people and their families with resources.
"We as a city and a community need to be much more focused on prevention and surrounding young people and their families with resources if we want to be safer in the long run," Shwalb stated, according to Fox 5. "We cannot prosecute and arrest our way out of it."
Former President Trump paid tribute to Gill in a post on Truth Social, describing him as "wonderful and brilliant" and "highly respected." As the city grapples with its crime problem, the debate over the circumstances of Gill's death and the broader issue of crime prevention continues to unfold.
Login