House Republicans warned congressional staff Monday about the spike in violent crime in the District, urging those who work on Capitol Hill to take steps to ensure they are safe.
The House Administration Committee, which oversees the Capitol complex, said it would hold an “informational security briefing” next week for interested employees to get safety tips and learn about precautions.
“This year we have seen a dramatic increase in violent crime and theft in Washington D.C. The city is on pace for the most homicides in two decades, a 105% increase in carjackings, and a 113% increase in motor vehicle thefts,” the committee said in justifying the briefing.
Some of that crime has already touched the Capitol Hill community, the committee said, pointing to the attack on Rep. Angie Craig, Minnesota Democrat, in her apartment building in February, and the March stabbing of an aide to Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul.
Staffers have had cars stolen and homes have been broken into, the committee statement added.
The warning comes weeks after the Mexican consulate in the District warned its citizens living here to “take precautions” because of surging crime, particularly in “areas previously considered safe.” Guatemala’s consulate issued a similar warning.
Metropolitan Police Department data shows the violent crime rate is up 39% so far this year, reversing a small drop from 2021 to 2022. Property crime is also up 27%.
The District in some ways is defying the national trend, where homicides and violent crime are dipping, though still above the levels before the coronavirus pandemic. City leaders have struggled for answers for why Washington is an outlier.
As a federal district, Congress has ultimate control over Washington, though the day-to-day operations are run by a Democratic-dominated city council and a Democratic mayor.
That has caused some friction.
At the start of this year, Congress overturned a proposed city law that would have relaxed maximum penalties for some major crimes. President Biden, after signaling opposition, wound up signing the bill to overturn the D.C. law.
The Capitol maintains its own police force that patrols the buildings and streets that make up the Capitol campus.
The House Administration Committee said its safety briefing, scheduled for Sept. 18, will include members of that police force, as well as victims of crime. The briefing is open to the entire Capitol Hill community.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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