Crime is rampant in Washington, D.C., to the point where congressional staffers are being attacked in broad daylight. As Matt covered, a staffer for Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who himself has been the victim of violent assaults, was stabbed. He survived but was taken to the hospital in "a life-threatening condition," though is expected to make a full recovery. The office is asking "for privacy so everyone can focus on healing and recovery," but Paul has still made brief remarks, and they're quite telling when it comes to warning about what our nation's capital has become.
B) Paul: Many of our major cities are really gone. Going to rot and ruin..we've demoralized our police..but this has happened in the broad daylight without any expectation. He didn't know his attacker. But we are thankful that hope is getting better.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
C) We've got to do something about keeping violent people in prison and away from people...Do they do any kind of testing before they release somebody who may well be criminally insane or a homicidal maniac, basically?
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
"It makes me think we're in the third world," he said, adding "I wonder whether Washington, DC should be listed on dangerous places to travel," mentioning such is the case when it comes to certain foreign countries designated by the State Department as dangerous places to travel to.
Paul's tweet highlighted the dangers of America's cities, as he also lamented "Many of our major cities are really gone." The senator was not only attacked at his home in Kentucky in 2017, but was harassed by crowds, along with his wife, Kelley Paul, upon leaving the 2020 Republican National Convention in August of that year. He also addressed the dangers of recidivism, as the suspect in this violent stabbing, Glynn Neal, had just been released from prison on Friday, with the stabbing occurring on Saturday.
Not only is crime rampant in D.C., but the city council somehow thought it made sense to put forth a soft-on-crime policy that would eliminate most mandatory minimum sentences, allows for jury trials in almost all misdemeanors, and has lesser penalties for burglary, robbery, carjacking, sexual assault, and illegally carrying a gun.
3) Comer: DC is losing taxpayers as businesses and residents are fleeing at a record pace. DC must prioritize policies that promote economic growth, not find ways to spend money it doesn't have
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
While Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) vetoed that crime bill, the council overrode her with a vote of 12-1 in January. Thankfully, since Congress has jurisdiction over D.C., there were still options. Republicans and Democrats came together to nix it, after the White House alerted that the president wouldn't veto it if it came before him, which it did, becoming law earlier this month.
Not only did the council put forth such a crime bill, they then tried to get away with pulling it back. Congress still overturned it earlier this month though, with a vote of 250-173 in the House and 81-14 in the Senate. While before the House Oversight Committee for a Wednesday hearing, Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia Phil Mendelson claimed he wasn't looking to cover up anything.
Senior Senate source on DC criminal code bill "We have the document and we will act as we see fit"
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 6, 2023
This is in response to DC City Council President Phil Mendelson saying the criminal code revision bill “is not properly before Congress at this time.”
DC Council chair Mendelson to Hse hrng about withdrawing bill to weaken DC criminal code: I didn't do it to cover (up). When you see that you are losing, you pull the bill back
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
Even the mainstream media is concerned with crime in D.C., as Spencer highlighted earlier on Wednesday, pointing to a piece from The Washington Post that noted how "startling" it is that more crimes aren't prosecuted in the district.
While many of them voted to overturn the soft-on-crime bill, we can't expect too much from Democrats. Many of them still want to grant D.C. statehood, which is absurd on constitutional grounds—though that hasn't stopped them from trying when they controlled the House—but even more so in the light of crime that is out of control.
On a more hopeful note, Fox News' Chad Pergram also tweeted a message from the parents of Phillip Todd, the staffer in question:
2) Todd family: Our son is in a stable condition, having undergone trauma surgery to address the wounds in his body. He also has a fracture on his skull, which will be treated with non-invasive neurosurgery. He is expected to make a full recovery
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
4) Todd family: We are impressed with the professionalism of the Washington D.C. police department in capturing the attacker, with the EMS and first responders’ quick response at the scene, and with the staff at the hospital in treating our son's injuries.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
6) Todd family: We are thankful for Senator Paul and his Chief of Staff for making a personal visit to encourage Phillip, and Senate Chaplain Reverend Black for praying over Phillip, and everyone who has reached out with prayers and offers to help.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023
7) Todd family: Our hope is that Washington D.C. continues to be the safe and beautiful city our son loves so much.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 29, 2023