Justice Department Probes Allegations of Crime Data Manipulation by D.C. Police Amid Federal Takeover Tensions
Washington, D.C. – August 20, 2025
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into whether officials within the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) falsified crime statistics to portray a rosier picture of safety in the nation’s capital, according to multiple sources familiar with the probe. This inquiry comes amid escalating political friction, as President Donald Trump has federalized local law enforcement and deployed federal agents, citing rampant crime despite official data showing significant declines.
The investigation, overseen by U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, is examining potential fraud or false statements in the production of crime data. At its center is MPD Commander Michael Pulliam, who was placed on paid administrative leave in May 2025 following allegations that he altered crime reports to downplay their severity. Pulliam has denied the accusations, but the probe is expected to broaden beyond him, potentially implicating other police and city officials. Specific claims include downgrading felony offenses—such as shootings or carjackings—to lesser crimes like theft or simple assault, according to D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton.
Pemberton, representing rank-and-file officers, has voiced skepticism about the official statistics, telling NBC News, “I think there are some concerns about the accuracy of the numbers,” and describing a possible “pattern” to suppress reported crime levels. He added that while crime may have decreased somewhat, the reported 26% drop in violent crime year-to-date is “preposterous,” emphasizing that officers experience “ubiquitous” crime across the city, from robberies to shootings.
President Trump has seized on these allegations to justify his aggressive stance on D.C. security. On August 11, 2025, he invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to federalize the MPD for 30 days, deploying hundreds of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement agents for patrols and traffic stops. In a Truth Social post, Trump declared, “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!” He further claimed that until recently, Washington was “the most unsafe ‘city’ in the United States, and perhaps the World,” but is now rapidly improving under federal oversight.
Trump reiterated these points in a press conference on August 14, stating, “They are giving this phony crime stats just like they gave other stats in the financial world. But they’re phony crime stats.” His administration’s actions follow high-profile incidents, including the attempted carjacking of a former DOGE staffer, and build on earlier DOJ praise in April for a 25% drop in violent crime during the first 100 days of his term—data now under scrutiny by the same department.
Local leaders, however, push back against the narrative of manipulated data and federal overreach. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has repeatedly highlighted MPD statistics showing violent crime down 26% compared to last year and homicides reduced by 11%, arguing that the federal takeover is unwarranted. In an interview with NBC4 Washington, Bowser described the Pulliam issue as involving “data anomalies in one district” and stated, “We are completing that investigation, and we don’t believe it implicates many cases.” Democratic figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have echoed this, asserting that violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low and criticizing Trump’s moves as baseless.
The probe adds to ongoing legal battles, with D.C.’s attorney general suing the Trump administration over efforts to curtail Police Chief Pamela A. Smith’s authority and demand cooperation on immigration enforcement. A tentative agreement was reached last Friday to allow Smith to retain control while potentially assisting federal immigration efforts, with a possible court hearing this week.
This investigation echoes past controversies, including a recently settled lawsuit by a D.C. police sergeant who accused superiors of misclassifying crimes to inflate positive statistics. Public discourse on platforms like X has amplified doubts, with users questioning the legitimacy of DOJ-cited drops in crime based on allegedly flawed MPD reporting.
Neither the Justice Department, MPD, nor Mayor Bowser’s office responded immediately to requests for comment. As the inquiry unfolds, it could reshape perceptions of crime in D.C. and influence the balance of power between federal and local authorities in the capital.