Biden signs bill nullifying D.C. crime measure

by ian

Ian Patrick, FISM News

The District of Columbia’s attempt to revamp its criminal code was officially struck down by President Biden on Monday.

Biden signed H.J.Res. 26 into law, which effectively nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), who sponsored the bill, announced the news over Twitter saying it marks “a major first step to restoring law and order in our nation’s capital city.”

The act in question aimed to lower penalties for certain crimes in D.C. It also aimed to eliminate most mandatory sentences for numerous crimes, including violent offenses like carjackings and robberies.

The House Oversight Committee tweeted a similar congratulatory remark upon killing “DC’s soft-on-crime bill.”

Despite the D.C. Council withdrawing the bill, Congressional lawmakers felt it important to have an official document to nullify such an action. Some members of the D.C. Council even expect this behavior to continue.

“I’m afraid that we’re going to see more of this for the remainder of this Congress,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson according to reporting by the Associated Press.

“Does this raise a concern that there are going to be other issues? Yes,” Mendelson added.

It does appear that the battle over this specific crime bill will be continuing at the very least. House Oversight Committee Chair, Republican James Comer, requested that D.C. officials and the head of the D.C. Police Union testify before his committee on March 29 “about crime, safety, & city management.”

DONATE NOW