The Department of Justice is investigating fake crime reporting data from the Metropolitan Police Department as Trump takes federal control of Washington, DC, and deploys federal troops and agents to remove criminals from the streets. 

As The Gateway Pundit reported, President Trump signed two executive actions to declare a “public safety emergency” in the nation’s capital, federalize the DC police force, and authorize the use of National Guard troops to tackle the rampant crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration crises.

But leftists and Democratic city leaders have repeatedly pointed to fraudulent data to falsely claim that DC is safe and livable and that President Trump’s actions are unjustified.

The Gateway Pundit reported that the DC Police Commander, Michael Pulliam, was placed on leave in May over allegations that he fudged DC crime statistics to make the city appear safer.

DC Police Commander Accused Of Altering Crime Statistics

The data claims that total violent crime for 2024 is down by 35% compared to 2023 and is at a 30-year low.

"In addition to the overall violent crime reduction, homicides are down 32%; robberies are down 39%; armed carjackings are down 53%; assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 27% when compared with 2023 levels, with the District reporting the fewest assaults with dangerous weapons and burglaries in over 30 years," a January press release from the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia’s office claims.

MPD Chief Pamela Smith issued a statement on the allegations: “Any irregularity in crime data brought to my attention will be addressed immediately,” Smith said. “I do not condone any official reclassifying criminal offenses outside the guidelines set in MPD policy.” Pulliam denies allegations that he altered crime data.

Now, the Department of Justice is probing the data.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently joined Fox's Laura Ingraham to discuss the investigation and provide an update on Trump's federal takeover of the capital.

"I can't tell you for sure whether it goes further, but we're, as you just suggested, we're, of course, looking into this," Blanche confirmed when asked if the scheme involves other leaders of the Metropolitan Police Department.

"The reality is that we know that DC has been an incredibly unsafe place to live for a very long time, and so in some ways, it's not surprising that we hear about reports of this, of this type of conduct that suggests that DC is safer than everybody that lives here knows to be true. So, we're investigating it, and hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it at some point soon."

Blanche further spoke about some of the successes they've had, including over 80 arrests in one night and removing weapons, drug offenders, MS-13 gang members, and hardened criminals from the streets.

"The same liberal media that's out there criticizing us and saying that we're doing something wrong and we shouldn't have the National Guard. They're the same liberal media that turn off the mics and jump for joy because they can now go to a restaurant without fear of getting mugged," he said, also slamming the liberals and leftwing activists that advocate for liberal policies like no-cash bail.

"We're fighting judges at the federal level, we're fighting judges who are letting people out in prison, and we're trying to frankly embarrass local leadership that that feels confident in these no cash bail laws that allow somebody to commit a violent crime, and before the sun is set, they're back on the streets again. That is not America, that is not justice, that is not keeping America safe again, and so, in DC, what we're doing is we're showing an example to, hopefully, the rest of this country, that when you focus federal resources on keeping communities safe, it works."

WATCH:

Per the Hill:

The investigation, led by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for D.C., comes from the same office that earlier this year publicized that violent crime in Washington had reached a 30-year low.

The D.C. police union, which supported Trump’s takeover of the force, has said it doubts crime is as low as the city reported.

Statistics released by the city show a 27 percent drop in violent crime and a 4 percent drop in property crime from 2024 to this year. The declines are even more significant for the full year comparisons of 2023 and 2024, with violent crime dropping 35 percent and property crime dropping 11 percent.

MPD did not immediately respond to request for comment nor did the U.S. Attorney’s Office. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) office did not comment.

The post Justice Department Investigating Falsified DC Crime Data – Deputy AG Todd Blanche: “We’re Investigating It, and Hopefully We’ll Get to The Bottom of It” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Ever since he was elected pontifex, American-born Pope Leo XIV has been a strong advocate for peace between nations.

After his special message on the holy day of Assumption that coincided with the historic Alaska talks between Donald J. Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo has now called on the faithful to ‘observe a day of fasting and prayers for peace’.

Leo is calling for the fasting and prayer remembrance for the war-torn areas of our planet on Friday, August 22.

POPE: FAST FOR PEACE, PRAY FOR UKRAINE

Pope Leo just threw the moral Hail Mary: calling Catholics – and anyone listening – to fast and pray this Friday for peace in Ukraine and every other war-torn corner of the map:

“As our Earth continues to be wounded by wars in the… https://t.co/jjRpdEb9d0 pic.twitter.com/tYdRC2WAgJ

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 20, 2025

Reuters reported:

“’As our Earth continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, and in many other regions … I invite all the faithful to live the day of August 22 in fasting and prayer’, the pontiff said during his weekly audience at the Vatican on Wednesday.

Leo suggested the faithful could ask God to ‘grant us peace and justice and to wipe away the tears of those who suffer because of the ongoing armed conflicts’.”

Vatican News reported:

“In recalling the upcoming liturgical commemoration of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on Friday, 22 August, the Pope invited the faithful to celebrate that day by praying and fasting for peace.

‘Mary is the Mother of the faithful here on earth and is remembered as the Queen of Peace’, the Pope said.[…] May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede so that peoples may find the path of peace’, he added.”

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday continued his catechesis on “Jesus Christ Our Hope” and invited Catholics around the world to dedicate the Aug. 22 feast of the Queenship of Mary to a day of prayer and fasting for world peace. pic.twitter.com/U4cXyM1gYr

— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) August 20, 2025

Read more:

Pope Leo XIV and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill Pray for Peace on This Assumption Day Marked by Alaska Peace Summit

The post Pope Leo XIV Calls for a Day of Fasting and Prayers for Peace on Friday appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The Federal Reserve Governor who was criminally referred to the Justice Department for potential mortgage fraud responded to housing regulator Bill Pulte’s accusations.

“I learned from the media that FHFA Director William Pulte posted on social media that he was making a criminal referral based on a mortgage application from four years ago, before I joined the Federal Reserve,” Lisa Cook said in a statement.

“I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet,” she said. “I do intend to take any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve and so I am gathering the accurate information to answer any legitimate questions and provide the facts.”

Pulte taunted Lisa Cook.

“Lisa Cook says she will answer all legitimate questions. Let’s start with this. Are these your signatures on Mortgages?” Pulte said on X later Wednesday.

Lisa Cook says she will answer all legitimate questions. Let’s start with this. Are these your signatures on Mortgages? pic.twitter.com/4aOfWB2VN2

— Pulte (@pulte) August 20, 2025

Earlier Wednesday, President Trump called on Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to resign on Wednesday after the head of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, criminally referred her to the Justice Department for mortgage fraud.

According to Pulte’s criminal referral, Lisa Cook committed mortgage fraud by lying on her mortgage application and falsifying bank statements when she designated her out-of-state Atlanta condo as her “primary residence”—just two weeks after taking a loan on her Michigan home, which she also claimed as her “primary residence.”

By claiming “primary residence” on her out-of-state condo, Lisa Cook received more favorable loan terms and a lower interest rate.

On June 18, 2021, Cook acquired a loan on a property in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On the mortgage agreement, Cook represented to “use the Property as Borrower’s principal residence within 60 days after the execution of her agreement, Pulte said.

On July 2, 2021, just two weeks later, Lisa Cook also purchased a condo in Atlanta and entered a 30-year mortgage agreement and affirmed the property would serve as her primary residence within 60 days of the execution of the mortgage and would serve as her primary residence for a full year, Pulte’s referral said.

According to Pulte, while Cook affirmed her Atlanta property would serve as her primary residence, online records indicate that the property was listed for rent in September 2022.

“While the property was listed for rent in 2022, a review of Ms. Cook’s federal government financial disclosures for calendar years 2022 and 2023 indicate that she has not disclosed any rental income tied to this address,” Pulte wrote in his criminal referral.

This is textbook occupancy fraud.

U.S. Federal Housing FHFA, alleges in a Criminal Referral to the Department of Justice that Federal Reserve Governor, Lisa D. Cook, committed mortgage fraud by designating her out of state condo as her primary residence, just two weeks after taking a loan on her Michigan home… pic.twitter.com/3hlknQ4yzF

— Pulte (@pulte) August 20, 2025

Bill Pulte repeatedly called on Cook to resign and asked if Jerome Powell was aware of her mortgage fraud.

Here is the Criminal Referral Letter on Lisa Cook, the current Fed Governor. pic.twitter.com/aG0LGnokei

— Pulte (@pulte) August 20, 2025

“Cook must resign, now!!” Trump said on Truth Social.

The post JUST IN: Biden-Appointed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook Lashes Out at Pulte Over Mortgage Fraud Allegations – And Pulte Taunts! appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Contrary to the narrative being fed to the public by the wacky liberal elite, real residents in the inner city of Washington D.C. do NOT feel safe and say crime is a problem.

“Let a man take over,” said one lifelong female D.C. resident. “Let Trump take over.”

See the video interviews below that makes the liberal narrative look foolish on X HERE:

Inner City D.C. Residents Plead for Federal Help: “Let Trump Take Over”

In Washington, D.C., the voices of the people are cutting through the noise. Not politicians, but residents living in daily fear.

On the streets of the inner city, Reporter @CaraCastronuova heard a message… pic.twitter.com/ObTN59VtFM

— LindellTV (@RealLindellTV) August 20, 2025

LindellTV White House Correspondent and Gateway Pundit reporter Cara Castronuova hit the inner city streets of D.C. to get the real scoop from residents in minority communities most susceptible to crime, according to statistics.

Keep in mind that D.C. is made up of many neighborhoods- some incredibly wealthy and chock full of the Democrat elite living in the lap of luxury in ten million dollar plus homes (like Georgetown and Adams Morgan).

Then there are the D.C. inner city neighborhoods that we visited like Anacostia and Deanwood, where residents have lived their entire lives. These are the sadly the areas where most of the crime takes place. These are also the areas where most loudmouth liberal elitist snobs would never set foot.

Democrats and the mainstream media continue to peddle the lies that these areas are “safe”, literally putting these people’s lives in danger by cooking crime statistics to fit their narrative.

Cara: “Do you feel like President Trump’s initiative to send in more police could be helpful for DC residents that don’t live in safe areas?”

D.C. Resident: “Yes, I do and I’m very appreciative of what Trump is doing and I think everything that he’s doing is helping D.C. as well as America.”

Cara: “What do you have to say to wealthy D.C. liberals or progressives protesting President Trump’s federalization attempts?”

D.C. Resident: “They don’t have to deal with the crime in the other areas. They have better stores, better protection, police protection. This area right here, around here by this mall, I wouldn’t want my grandchildren to walk around here. They live in this area, not far.”

Cara: “So you’re for federalizing D.C. because you think that it will help the people here be more safe.”

D.C. Resident: “Yes, 100%.”

Cara: “So what’s your message to President Trump if he sees this?”

D.C. Resident: “I love you and keep up the good work and thank you for all of what you’re doing. God bless you.”

Another man lamented about how he wants to move out of D.C.

Man: I’ve been shot four times. Attacked so many times, just getting tired of it. Since I moved to D.C. (I was shot four times).

This flies in the face of there out of touch wealthy liberals, the progressive protesters and the Democrat politicians who continue to say D.C. is a perfectly safe place to live.

For years, violent crime in the nation’s capital been an issue. Shootings, carjackings, and homicides now define daily life in many neighborhoods. While city leaders downplay the crisis, residents say they’ve been left to fend for themselves.

Young D.C. Man: “I just want the police to do what they can for our country, for our city of DC. So none of us, none of us young people don’t have to live, live out the rest of our lives, robbing and killing or God knows what or end up in jail, dead, or drunk, or becoming a drunk at the liquor store or loitering.”

D.C. Grandmother: “The youth in DC need more governing. They need more policing, more programs, put programs back in place.”

D.C. Man: “Y ‘all keep talking about the youth. Where they going at? They don’t got no rec centers. They don’t got no playgrounds. They don’t got nothing. They only got boxing teams no more. I’m saying they got them, but it’s not like it was when we was coming up. They don’t have nothing out here for youths, period.”

Cara: Do you feel safe in D.C. as an Uber driver?

D.C. Uber Driver: “I got God. I got Jesus. He’s my protector.”

Failed progressive leadership has left entire neighborhoods abandoned. Now, with crime in neighborhoods spiraling, the people are saying they want protection. They want order. Many even say…they want President Trump.

Reshare the video below on X to break the fake news narrative that D.C. is Disneyland:

Inner City D.C. Residents Plead for Federal Help: “Let Trump Take Over”

In Washington, D.C., the voices of the people are cutting through the noise. Not politicians, but residents living in daily fear.

On the streets of the inner city, Reporter @CaraCastronuova heard a message… pic.twitter.com/ObTN59VtFM

— LindellTV (@RealLindellTV) August 20, 2025

Remember, in the end God wins! 

Please follow Cara on X.

Cara is an Investigative Journalist, 2-Time Boxing Champion and Television Personality. She is the White House Correspondent for LindellTV. She is the co-founder of Citizens Against Political Persecution. You can follow her on X HERE or Instagram HERE @CaraCastronuova. She is currently banned on Fakebook & suing them for colluding with the fallen Biden Regime to violate her First Amendment Rights. You can contact Cara at www.caracastronuova.com if you have any tips.

“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me.” -Philippians 4:13

The post “LET TRUMP TAKE OVER!” Inner City D.C. Residents Say CRIME IS BAD! “I Got Shot Four Times!” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A local school board chair is facing outrage after publicly celebrating the death of cultural legend and conservative supporter Hulk Hogan.

Sarah Rockwell, Democrat and current chair of the Alachua County School Board, exposed her radical bias in a Facebook comment after the shocking news broke that Hogan had passed away at 71.

Instead of showing respect for the beloved entertainer and WWE icon, Rockwell posted a nasty comment:

“Good. One less MAGA in the world.”

Many questioned how someone entrusted with shaping children’s education could openly celebrate the death of an American icon simply because of his political beliefs.

This school board chair said “Good. One less MAGA in the world” in response to Hulk Hogan’s death. pic.twitter.com/apjIUKunVd

— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) July 26, 2025

After being exposed, Rockwell issued a weak “apology,” restricting comments on her Facebook post to silence critics. She wrote:

“A few days ago, I made a cruel and flippant comment from my personal Facebook account on a friend’s post regarding the death of Hulk Hogan. I deeply regret making that comment and have since removed it. I want to make it very clear that I never have and never will wish harm on anyone regardless of whether we share political views. While I strongly disagree with some of the comments Hulk Hogan made, that is no excuse for my comment.

I also sincerely apologize for the way my comment has eroded confidence in my ability to represent all students, families, and staff in Alachua County. I want to assure all of you that the best interests of our children and our public schools are at the center of everything I do as a board member. I hope I have shown that by my record of advocacy for children, families, and staff members throughout Alachua county.

Again, I apologize for the hurt and distrust I have caused with my insensitive comment. I will continue to do the hard work of putting our children and schools first. I hope that I can earn back your trust.”

During a contentious July 31 board meeting, outraged citizens blasted Rockwell. Jeremy Clepper, one commenter, called her “a disgusting, vile human being” before security nearly removed him, according to the Gainesville Sun.

Rockwell’s arrogance didn’t end with her Facebook post. At a recent school board meeting, when parents pressed her on the controversy, she doubled down, claiming her words were “personally protected speech.”

Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas determined that the Alachua County School Board violated the First Amendment by selectively silencing speech at meetings.

On August 20, the Florida State Board of Education approved sanctions requiring the entire board to undergo training. If they fail to comply, or repeat their antics during the 2025–26 school year, their salaries will be withheld.

Rockwell continues to dodge full accountability, even refusing to directly apologize to conservative parents at the August board hearing. Instead, she arrogantly said voters can “decide at the ballot box” next cycle.

Sarah Rockwell:
“So, first of all, I’ve already made two public apologies for my comment, and I’m not going to speak to that again because that is my personally protected speech that was not made in my public capacity.

All of the parents who came to speak that night were given the opportunity to speak. Nobody who had signed up to speak chose not to speak. To my knowledge, there are not parents who came to speak who were afraid to speak, because everyone who came and signed up to speak did.

As far as—you know—the board chair already answered, but as far as what constitutes a disruption to the meeting: if the business of the meeting is interrupted, that is a disruption. What interrupted the business of the meeting was the speaker. As he walked back to his seat, he was engaging with other audience members, and it was preventing the next speaker from having his time. It was disrupting the order of the meeting.

I still intervened to not have him removed because I thought that another warning was warranted. But, to me, what constitutes a disruption is when the business of the meeting is delayed or interfered with.”

BREAKING: Alachua County School Board Sarah Rockwell on her remarks after Hulk Hogan’s passing, “Good. One less MAGA,” which are now facing backlash.

“I’ve already made two public apologies for my comment and I’m not going to speak to that again because that is my personally… pic.twitter.com/XWo4bjcMRj

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) August 20, 2025

More from The Gainesville Sun:

Rockwell faced questions on whether she apologized to the public commenter or if she had a message for conservative parents concerned whether they could trust her to be fair. She noted that she would be up for reelection next cycle, and that people could vote her out of office.

“My record speaks for itself,” Rockwell said. She declined to further apologize for her comments when asked by a board member, noting her social media apology just after her comments drew backlash online and also at the July 31 school board meeting.

More than 20 people appeared for public comment at the meeting in St. Augustine, many from Alachua County. Comment ranged from people agreeing that the school board should face sanctions and others arguing that the school board didn’t violate any First Amendment standards.

“The reason why there are not more conservatives in that room, is because of the toxic environment that has been created in and outside of these meetings,” said Tim Marden, Alachua County Republican Party chair and mayor of Newberry, a city in the county.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. I don’t believe sanctions are enough, I think you should go further and use any authority that you have.”

The post Florida School Board Member REFUSES to Further Apologize After MASSIVE Backlash for Cheering Hulk Hogan’s Death: “Good. One Less MAGA” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.