Crime News
The Daily Signal reports on crime news with analysis and commentary on policies, crime rates, and policing debates.
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news
America’s Top 20 Cities for Crime, and What Party Runs Them
Annoyed that Senate Democrats are blocking a police reform bill, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the 20 U.S. cities with the highest crime rates are all run by Democrats. “The Senate Republicans want very much to pass a bill on police reform,” Trump said during a Rose Garden press conference with Polish President Andrzej… -
opinion
Criminals Tearing Down DC Statues Should Be Prosecuted. Here Are the Laws They’re Violating.
It seems like every day angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of people they don’t like. And it is not just limited to statues of Confederate soldiers. Mobs have attacked statues of Mahatma Gandhi and former presidents Andrew Jackson and Ulysses Grant. The attempt to topple the statue of Jackson—which fortunately was foiled—occurred… -
opinion
Count the Crimes on the Federal Law Books. Then Cut Them.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, has introduced the Count Crimes to Cut Act, which represents a much-needed step toward transparency in federal criminal law. Scholars across the political spectrum have, for many years, decried the astounding growth in federal criminal laws (see, for example, here, here, here, and here). According to best estimates—and estimates are all… -
opinion
DOJ Plays Offense on Girls Sports
When Idaho went to the mat to protect women’s sports, the ACLU vowed to see Republican Gov. Brad Little in court. One group it didn’t expect to see there is the U.S. Justice Department. But thanks to an administration that isn’t going to let the Supreme Court dictate gender roles, that’s exactly who will be… -
news
Felony Murder Charges Pondered for Atlanta Cop Who Shot Black Man, DA Says
A Georgia district attorney said murder charges could come as soon as Wednesday for the fired officer who allegedly shot a taser-wielding black man who resisted arrest and ran from police. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks “did not seem to present any threat to anyone” when he was shot Friday… -
opinion
Trump Administration Right to Reject Jurisdiction of International Criminal Court
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday announcing sanctions on individuals “directly engaged in any effort by the [International Criminal Court] to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any United States personnel without the consent of the United States” or the “personnel of a country that is an ally of the United States without the… -
news
Attorney General Reassures Black Community on Criminal Justice, Vows to Prosecute ‘Extremist Agitators’
Attorney General William Barr said Thursday the Justice Department will work with law enforcement agencies to find ways to restore confidence among African Americans in the criminal justice system. During an online press conference, Barr also said law enforcement should prosecute “extremist agitators” of all ideological stripes. He specifically cited Antifa and the Boogaloo movement. … -
opinion
Why Third-Degree Murder May Be Wrong Charge Against Derek Chauvin
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who arrested George Floyd and proceeded to press his knee into Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Some legal experts are asking whether these are the most appropriate charges to be brought against Chauvin. >>> Update: Minnesota Attorney… -
opinion
A More Fitting Criminal Charge in George Floyd’s Death
The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers was undeniably unjust. As many expected, prosecutors have announced the filing of criminal charges against former officer Derek Chauvin. Less expected, however, were the specific charges—third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Moreover, as of today, no charges have been filed against any of the… -
opinion
Why Didn’t the FBI Record the Flynn Interview?
There are so many angles to the FBI-Michael Flynn imbroglio, and most have been covered in great depth across a divergent set of viewpoints. But one aspect that has not been covered, and that opens up a wider lens into FBI policy, is the fact that the FBI refuses to audiotape, much less videotape, interviews… -
news
California’s Reopening Plan Discriminates Against Churches, DOJ Says
California’s plan for reopening the economy discriminates against religious believers, the Department of Justice warned Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday. The DOJ told Newsom in a letter provided to The Daily Caller News Foundation that though the DOJ understands California’s responsibility to protect the health and safety of Californians, the state also has a… -
news
Sen. Lindsey Graham Sets Vote to Subpoena Comey, Brennan, Others Involved in FBI Surveillance
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on June 4 whether to authorize subpoenas for documents and testimony from more than 50 current or former government officials, including James Comey and John Brennan, as part of the panel’s investigation into abuse of the surveillance process during Crossfire Hurricane. The committee will debate and vote June 4… -
news
Illegal Aliens Can Begin Applying for Cash Assistance in California
Illegal aliens can apply for direct cash assistance from the California state government as of Monday, marking the implementation of the first relief program of its kind. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, announced in April the launch of the Disaster Relief Fund, a $125 million coronavirus relief program for illegal aliens living in the state who don’t… -
news
Barr Says Obama, Biden Are Not Under Criminal Investigation
Attorney General William Barr poured cold water Monday on the idea that former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden will face criminal charges in connection with the surveillance activities against associates of President Donald Trump. “As to President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement, based on the information… -
news
Democrats Reject Amendment Denying Benefits to Illegal Aliens
House Democrats have rejected an amendment that a Republican congressman proposed to their $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill, dubbed the HEROES Act, that would have prohibited economic stimulus payments from going to illegal immigrants. “After the $2.2 trillion CARES Act became law, I have been clear in my belief that we should study its strengths… -
news
4 Big Unanswered Questions About the ‘Unmasking’ Scandal
As the “unmasking” scandal unfolds, the Senate Judiciary Committee will delve into the conduct of the Obama administration and the intelligence community in secretly investigating the incoming Trump administration. Two Senate Republicans released previously secret information Wednesday listing top Obama administration officials who made the same request in early 2017: that the intelligence community disclose… -
news
Pelosi’s Coronavirus Bill Includes Billions for Eligible Illegal Aliens
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced her party’s coronavirus relief package, which includes billions of dollars in carve-outs for eligible illegal aliens, grants to sanctuary cities, and other protections for the undocumented community. House Democrats released the HEROES Act on Tuesday, a bill that provides $3 trillion in stimulus funds to state and local governments, along with other… -
news
Justice Department Drops Case Against Michael Flynn
The Justice Department announced Thursday that it has dropped its controversial case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, a little over a week after the release of embarrassing documents showing FBI bias undermined the prosecution’s case. The documents that surfaced last week included notes of a discussion among top FBI officials about whether the… -
opinion
Media Barely Try to Hide Bias in Covering Sexual Assault Accusations
Perhaps our country’s most powerful media organizations now simply don’t care how utterly one-sided their political coverage is. This appears to be the case with how the media has treated the accusations of Tara Reade, who has accused Joe Biden, a former senator and vice president, of sexual harassment and sexual assault. This treatment is… -
news
Text Messages Reveal Peter Strzok Intervened in FBI’s Planned Closure of Michael Flynn Investigation
Former FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok intervened at the last minute in early 2017 to stop the bureau from closing an investigation into Michael Flynn, the incoming national security adviser, according to government files unsealed Thursday. The FBI was investigating Flynn and several other Trump campaign associates at the time for possible links to Russia…