Politics

Washington’s criminal justice system is already under substantial federal control

Police union in D.C. supported the president’s decision to take over the city’s police force

Brian Schwalb called the administration’s actions to take control of policing the city unprecedented unnecessary and unlawful

Federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is intended to last for 30 days

Takeover must be a temporary measure with the goal of empowering a fully staffed police department

Representative James R Comer praised the president’s announcement

Mr Trump recently installed ally former Fox News host Jeannine Pirro as US attorney for Washington

What Mr Trump announced on Monday was essentially show of force that will expire on Sept 10

Representative Robert Garcia has not yet received a letter including explanation and duration

Trials get delayed crime goes up

Pirro's predecessor fired attorneys who prosecuted violent insurrectionists from Jan 6

Mr Jain is one of two shadow senators from District of Columbia who serve as its elected advocates before body

They hold no voting power but lobby Senate in favor of D C statehood to prevent congressional interference and pass laws that protect D C's interests

In his first term Mr Trump called up National Guard soldiers and federal law enforcement personnel to forcibly clear peaceful protests during Black Lives Matter protests

Crime rate in nation's capital has been falling in spite of President Trump's actions

City is down two judges out of nine on its high court D C court of appeals

In decrying crime he listed familiar targets like New York Los Angeles and Chicago but did not mention cities in Republican-led states with highest murder rates Memphis St Louis or New Orleans

He also ignored most violent episode in Washington's recent history Jan 6 2021 riot as Capitol

All but about 250 National Guard troops have since been withdrawn

Mr Trump threatened to expand efforts to other cities including Chicago if they did not deal with crime rates