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
California Man Arrested After Threatening to Murder the Family of FCC’s Ajit Pai
A man angry over net neutrality has been charged with threatening to murder the family of Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai. Late last month, Markara Man, 33, of Norwalk, California, was arrested and charged with “threatening to murder a member of the immediate family of a U.S. official U.S. [Ajit Pai] with the intent… -
opinion
Another Court Term, Another Sign That Congress Must Fix Overcriminalization
Another Supreme Court term has come and gone and overcriminalization—Congress’ overuse and abuse of the criminal law to “fix” every problem and punish every mistake—remains a concern at the court. A closely-divided Supreme Court recently ruled, in Currier v. Virginia, that when a criminal defendant agrees with the government to adjudicate multiple charges through multiple trials,… -
news
Goodlatte: FBI Lawyers Instructed Strzok Not to Answer ‘Many, Many’ Questions in Deposition
FBI lawyers instructed Peter Strzok during a congressional deposition on Wednesday not to answer “many, many questions” about his involvement in the Hillary Clinton and Russia investigations, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte. “Unfortunately, the FBI counsel in the room has instructed Mr. Strzok not to answer many, many questions, and that’s going to be a serious problem moving forward,”… -
news
After Maryland Shooting, Trump Vows to ‘Reduce Violent Crime and to Protect Innocent Life’
President Donald Trump honored the five victims killed in a shooting at the office of a local newspaper in Maryland on Thursday. “I’d like to address the horrific shooting that took place yesterday at Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland,” Trump said Friday during a White House event. “This attack shocked the conscience of our… -
opinion
Criminal Justice Reform a Big Part of Orrin Hatch’s Legacy
The Senate and the American people will lose a champion for conservative principles when the longest-serving Republican senator in history, Orrin Grant Hatch of Utah, retires next year. The reform bill he introduced last week proves that, after 41 years in the Senate, Hatch is still building a legacy for advancing the rule of law… -
opinion
We Hear You: LGBT ‘Pride,’ the FBI’s Clinton Probe, the Singapore Summit, and Tucker on Trump
Editor's note: Our audience had some things to say about Rachel del Guidice's account of what she saw at the recent LGBT pride parade in Washington, D.C., and on Fred Lucas's reporting on the official review of the FBI's treatment of Hillary Clinton. Those responses dominate this week's collection of views. Be sure to write… -
news
Families of Victims of Illegal Aliens Tell of ‘Permanent Separation’ From Children, Being Ignored by Media
With President Donald Trump still facing criticism over separating migrant families who illegally crossed the border, other families met with the president Friday to share their stories of “permanent separation” from children killed by illegal immigrants—and to complain of being ignored by the news media. Among those family members were Laura Wilkerson, who recalled the… -
opinion
It Took Too Long for FBI to Act on Strzok. When Corruption Arises, the Agency Must Act Swiftly.
News Tuesday that FBI agent Peter Strzok was escorted from the FBI building and effectively suspended from his duties was long overdue and a welcome development. Strzok improperly sent numerous harsh anti-Trump texts during the 2016 presidential campaign in exchanges with an FBI colleague he was romantically involved with. Strzok was removed last summer by special counsel… -
news
Don’t Ignore the Grave Danger Unaccompanied Illegal Alien Children Face, Idaho Lawmaker Says
“If you were parents,” Rep. Rep. Raul Labrador asked Thursday, “would you send your child hundreds and hundreds of miles with [human] traffickers … that are evil people, that are doing harm to them during the trip?” “So, don’t just think about the kids in the detention facilities, think about all of the children [traveling to… -
opinion
Podcast: The Justice Department’s Inspector General Report on the FBI
The Heritage Foundation’s John Malcolm joins us to discuss the new 568-page report on the FBI’s conduct during the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server. Plus: Actor Chris Pratt urges an MTV audience to pray more. -
opinion
Trump Is More Right Than Wrong About Migrant Crime in Germany
President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday, “Crime in Germany is way up. Big mistake made all over Europe in allowing millions of people in who have so strongly and violently changed their culture!” The people of Germany are turning against their leadership as migration is rocking the already tenuous Berlin coalition. Crime in Germany is… -
news
FBI Director Wray Outlines Ways to Prevent Missteps Made in Clinton Email Probe
A Senate committee hearing Monday on how the FBI and Justice Department handled the Hillary Clinton email probe leading up to the 2016 presidential election elicited a promise from FBI Director Christopher Wray that future investigations would be handled differently. “We are going to hold accountable any employee for potential misconduct,” Wray said during the… -
news
Sports Tickets, Other Freebies for FBI Leakers Raise ‘Bribery’ Issues, Legal Experts Say
The Justice Department’s internal watchdog is investigating FBI leakers, as legal experts say revelations about gifts in an inspector general’s report this week raise new legal and ethical issues. “We will separately report on those investigations as they are concluded,” @JusticeOIG says. The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General noted that “dozens” of FBI agents… -
news
Justice Department IG Report: FBI Agents Regularly Received Free Handouts From Journalists
The Department of Justice inspector general identified a number of instances where FBI employees regularly spoke with members of the media and received a number of free perks from journalists, including meals and tickets to various events. On page XII in the report, the inspector general says the department “identified numerous FBI employees, at all… -
news
With Knife Crimes on Rise, British Judge Recommends Duller Kitchen Knives
A veteran British judge says Britons should round off the tips of their large kitchen knives as a way to cut down on the rising number of knife attacks in England, which has strict gun controls. Judge Nicholas Madge made his proposal at his recent retirement ceremony after 77 knife-related incidents, including three deaths, occurred… -
news
Report From Watchdog: FBI Official Texted That ‘We’ll Stop’ a Trump Presidency
The Justice Department’s internal watchdog has found that FBI official Peter Strzok, a main player in the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state, texted about stopping Donald Trump from becoming president, Bloomberg News first reported. The report from Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department’s inspector general, says Strzok… -
opinion
What Tocqueville Would Think of Today’s Criminal Justice Reforms
Americans are returning to a debate over recidivism and criminal justice reform we’ve maintained since the founding of our nation. The early 1800s saw a rise of populist political sentiments in the presidency of Andrew Jackson and a corresponding national discussion over reforming prisons to reduce recidivism. Concerns were voiced not just for protecting the… -
news
Justice Department Lays Down the Law on ‘Unconstitutional’ University of Michigan Speech Policies
The Justice Department has filed court papers against the University of Michigan in a lawsuit alleging the school’s speech policies violate students’ free speech rights. Following through on a priority of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department statement of interest filed Monday alleges that the University of Michigan has an “unconstitutional” statement of student rights and responsibilities…. -
news
Nunes Accuses Justice Department of ‘Obstruction’ in Battle Over FBI Informant Documents
Devin Nunes, chairman of the House intelligence committee, is giving the Department of Justice until Tuesday to provide documents about an FBI informant used to spy on the Trump campaign. In a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Friday, Nunes accused the agency of “obstruction” and using “an array of tactics” to withhold… -
news
DOJ Watchdog Sets Release Date for Clinton Email Report
The Department of Justice’s internal watchdog will release its much-anticipated report about the Hillary Clinton email investigation next Thursday. DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz informed the Senate Committee on the Judiciary that the report will be released in anticipation of a hearing he will attend on June 18. A day after the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing,…