Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
FIRST ON FOX — A legal organization aligned with former President Donald Trump has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request aimed at obtaining comprehensive crime records from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. This action seeks to investigate claims that crime data has been intentionally distorted.
The America First Legal Foundation (AFL), founded by White House aide Stephen Miller, seeks a variety of documents from the D.C. police, including all email communications or internal directives that indicate modifications to the department’s crime tracking and reporting practices. Additionally, the request demands records related to the alleged falsification or concealment of crime statistics.
This initiative from AFL unfolds just four days after President Trump ordered the temporary federalization of Washington, D.C. This federal control involves deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to the area to address rising crime rates and exert federal oversight on local policing.
Included in the FOIA request is a demand for all communications related to Michael Pulliam, a D.C. police officer currently on administrative leave following accusations of altering crime figures to downplay criminal activity.
Pulliam previously served as a commander within the Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District, which encompasses areas like Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights.
The inquiry surrounding Pulliam’s actions has become a politically charged topic recently, with Trump associates citing it as a sign that the Metropolitan Police Department is attempting to manipulate crime statistics in the capital.
As news of the AFL’s investigation makes headlines, President Trump and his advisors have criticized D.C.’s crime levels, labeling them as alarmingly high. They argue that the statistics being reported do not accurately reflect the reality. Detractors of this narrative suggest it serves as a pretext for the administration’s executive push for increased federal oversight.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described D.C. as being more dangerous than Baghdad during a recent interview. He asserted that violence in the city has reached unprecedented levels.
Will Scolinos, AFL’s lead attorney, reiterated in a statement that numerous recent reports indicate a troubling trend of violent crimes. He stated the organization aims to verify whether the official crime data has been misleadingly adjusted.
According to Scolinos, President Trump is dedicated to enhancing safety for all individuals in the capital. He criticized the administration’s opponents for defending the city’s alleged safety, observing that public sentiment contradicts such claims.
Following Trump’s executive order on August 11, a declaration of a crime emergency was made. This order references Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, asserting that federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department is vital for maintaining order in the capital and safeguarding federal properties.
As part of their investigation announcement, AFL pointed to a report from the Washington Free Beacon, which discussed a settlement agreement involving a former police sergeant, Charlotte Djossou. This sergeant had previously filed suit against MPD leaders in 2020 for misclassifying offenses, ostensibly to create a misleading picture of crime in D.C.
While the settlement itself was not included in AFL’s FOIA request, details regarding this agreement remain unconfirmed at this time.
Nevertheless, the timing of the AFL investigation is significant. Senior Trump officials and supporters have leveraged the Pulliam case as a foundation for questioning the authenticity of crime data in Washington, D.C. This comes in the wake of federal statistics from January 2025 that purportedly indicated a decline in violent crime to its lowest levels in over three decades.
D.C. officials have acknowledged potential misreporting in the past, indicating that the reported decreases in violent crime may be somewhat inflated. While recent data on the Metropolitan Police Department’s website shows a 26% decrease in violent crime from 2023 to 2024, city leaders reject the idea that officials intentionally manipulated data to present a false image.
During a recent interview with NBC News, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser explained that a thorough review of MPD crime data since the start of 2025 found a decline of 552 violent crime victims compared to the same timeframe the previous year. Bowser added that crime was down across all districts, apart from one, and dismissed comparisons to war-torn areas.
America First Legal, while not officially part of the Trump administration, was established by longtime advisor Stephen Miller after the first Trump presidency. Miller departed from AFL before rejoining the White House as Trump’s deputy chief of staff in 2025.
A Growing Focus on Crime Data Integrity
The AFL’s investigative efforts reflect a growing concern about the integrity of crime statistics and reporting practices across the nation. With increasing scrutiny on public safety and administrative oversight, the revelations surrounding crime data in D.C. could have wider implications, potentially influencing public perception and policy regarding crime across other cities.
As both sides of the political spectrum weigh in on this issue, the focus on crime data integrity is more critical than ever. Understanding the accuracy of crime statistics is essential for fostering public trust in law enforcement agencies and ensuring effective community safety measures.
In summary, the America First Legal Foundation’s recent actions highlight not only a specific incident involving D.C. crime data but also a broader national conversation about crime reporting and transparency within local police departments. The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for future inquiries into crime data integrity across various jurisdictions.
