D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb criticized President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployment of the National Guard, calling the move “out of touch with the facts on the ground.” Speaking to NPR, Schwalb said violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low, citing Justice Department data.
Trump announced the 30-day federal control Monday, describing D.C. as overrun by “violent gangs” and “homeless people,” and said officers could do “whatever the hell they want.” Schwalb warned that MPD must still comply with constitutional and local laws, even under limited emergency powers allowed by the Home Rule Act.
He expressed concern about operational control, noting the Act permits the president to request MPD services for a federal purpose, not to seize full command. Schwalb said his office is monitoring for unlawful policing and stressed that civil rights protections remain in place.
Mayor Muriel Bowser called the action “unsettling” but indicated the city will comply. Schwalb stopped short of announcing legal action, taking a “wait and see” approach while evaluating the federal role in MPD operations.
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