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
Top Tax-Writing Republicans Renew Call for DOJ to Investigate Lois Lerner Over IRS Scandal
Two top tax-writing Republicans in the House are calling on the Department of Justice to reopen its investigation into whether former IRS official Lois Lerner unlawfully targeted conservative organizations applying for tax-exempt status. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady and tax policy subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions Wednesday, noting… -
news
What Determines If Susan Rice Committed Crime in ‘Unmasking’ of Trump Officials
Political opponents have been quick to suggest that Susan Rice committed a crime in her waning days as national security adviser to President Barack Obama in the way she handled intelligence reports related to those close to the incoming president, Donald Trump. But to have broken federal law, national security experts told The Daily Signal,… -
opinion
From the Car Wash to the Butcher Shop, Corruption Permeates Brazil
For the past three years, a massive (and still unfolding) public corruption scandal known as “Operation “Car Wash” has rocked Brazil. The scandal includes allegations of widespread kickbacks and money laundering schemes connected to construction contracts with the state-owned Petrobras oil company. Now, the country is confronting another major embarrassment. According to The Wall Street Journal,… -
news
IRS Policy That Allowed Targeting Is Still in Effect, Watchdog Finds
An obscure bureaucratic policy that allowed IRS officials to target conservative and tea party tax-exemption applicants during the 2010 and 2012 election campaigns is still in place, meaning the same abuses may be continuing, according to a nonprofit government watchdog. The federal tax agency’s policy requires IRS officials to stop processing tax-exempt applications that are “likely… -
news
FBI Director Confirms Investigation of Russia’s Meddling in US Election, Including Any Links to Trump Campaign
For the first time, the director of the FBI publicly revealed Monday that the bureau is conducting a counterintelligence investigation of the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the presidential election and whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow. “I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that… -
opinion
The Justice Department’s Latest Misbehavior
For the past decade, John Fund, J. Christian Adams, and I have been writing about the misbehavior, unethical conduct, and lack of professionalism exhibited by lawyers inside the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department, including the Voting Section. The situation apparently has not improved, given the serious accusations of unprofessional conduct made by… -
opinion
How Local Citizens Can Take Up the Fight Against Public Corruption
We hear it all the time from politicians: They are finally going to stop the “waste, fraud, and abuse” in government. In states with more corruption, like Pennsylvania, New York, or Illinois, calls to clean up government are frequent as well. The problem is that these promises rarely come to fruition. This week—Sunshine Week—is a… -
opinion
Jeff Sessions’ Speech to Law Enforcement Signals Tough Approach to Violent Crime
Earlier this morning in Richmond, Virginia, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to a gathering of law enforcement leaders from across the country to lay out the Department of Justice’s agenda for addressing the surge in violent crime affecting the nation. While acknowledging that crime rates remain near historic lows, Sessions correctly pointed out that over… -
news
Father Gives Heartbreaking Plea on Anniversary of His Son’s Murder by an Illegal Immigrant
The father of a high school football player killed by an illegal immigrant spoke about how the media ignores the victims of those crimes. Jamiel Shaw Sr., a guest at President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress Tuesday, spoke on the anniversary of his son, Jamiel Jr.'s, death. Shaw mentioned how the media ignores these crimes and… -
news
Trump’s Opportunity to Work With Congress to Scrap Unneeded Criminal Laws, Rules
In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump spoke eloquently Tuesday night about the need to “break the cycle” of violence and poverty, Heritage Foundation legal expert John Malcolm observes. “Combating this problem,” Malcolm writes, “will be one of the president’s greatest challenges, and his success will have much to… -
opinion
How Tennessee Criminalized Compassion for Animals
Giving physical therapy to animals usually isn’t too controversial, but apparently in Tennessee, it is. A Tennessee licensing board has threatened to criminally prosecute two women for nothing more than helping horses through massage therapy. Their case shows just how asinine state occupational licensing laws can be: While the applicable regulatory scheme forbids their current… -
news
How Trump Proposes to Help Victims of Crimes by Illegal Immigrants
With family members of three Americans killed by illegal immigrants looking on, President Donald Trump on Tuesday night used his address to Congress to bring attention to his plan for an office to help victims of crimes committed by those not authorized to be in the country. “I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security… -
news
One County Saw a 27% Drop in Assaults After It Helped Enforce Immigration Law. Here’s the Rest of the Story.
In July 2007, the elected board of a growing county in Northern Virginia adopted a controversial resolution requiring the police department to partner with the federal government to help deport illegal immigrants. Corey Stewart, the Republican elected the year before as chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, ran on a platform of… -
opinion
How Trump’s DOJ Can Start Enforcing Federal Marijuana Law
On Thursday last week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he “believe[s] that we will see greater enforcement” of the federal laws against recreational marijuana. While he acknowledged that the question to which he was responding was better directed to the Department of Justice, Spicer said that state legalization of recreational marijuana “is something… -
news
Trump Wants Justice Department to Investigate Leakers. How That Works.
Frustrated by a proliferation of leaks early in his administration, President Donald Trump last week said he directed the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation. “I’ve actually called the Justice Department to look into the leaks,” Trump said during a 75-minute news conference at the White House. “Those are criminal leaks.” The spotlight… -
news
Congressional Aides in Criminal Probe Owed Money to Hezbollah-Connected Fugitive
Congressional aides suspected of criminally misusing their access to House computer systems owed $100,000 to an Iraqi politician who is wanted by U.S. authorities and has been linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Middle Eastern terrorist outfit. Imran Awan and four of his relatives were employed as information technology aides by dozens of House Democrats, including… -
news
Trump Targets Criminals, Late Arrivals in Immigration Enforcement
The Department of Homeland Security will make prioritization key in its beefed-up enforcement of the border and the interior of the country—removing criminals first, while more recent arrivals will also face expedited removal. However, critics call it “mass deportation” that will face a legal challenge. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly released implementation memos to agencies…