President Donald Trump announced plans to submit a crime bill and ask Congress to extend federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. beyond the 30-day limit set by his recent executive order.
Trump, speaking to reporters after an event at the Kennedy Center, said, "We're going to need a crime bill that we're going to be putting in, and it's going to pertain initially to D.C. … you can't have 30 days." The order, signed on Monday, declared a crime emergency to "protect public servants, citizens and tourists, and ensure the safe functioning of the federal government," and is set to expire in one month unless Congress approves an extension.
The president also took aim at efforts by D.C. to pursue statehood, calling the push "ridiculous" and insisting the focus should be on public safety. "We want to straighten the place out," he added.
Meanwhile, National Guard troops began deploying in the capital on Tuesday night, with some 800 members expected to be fully operational by week's end. The deployment underscores growing federal involvement in local security operations.
The move has sparked debate over the balance of power between federal authority and local governance in the nation's capital, raising questions about oversight, accountability and the best path to curb crime in one of the world's most high-profile cities.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
