(DC Pundit) – In a surprising (or not so surprising) turn of events, recently revised FBI data has corroborated former President Donald Trump’s assertions regarding a significant increase in crime rates during the Biden-Harris administration. This revelation has sparked a renewed debate on the accuracy and transparency of crime statistics in the United States.
During a presidential debate on September 10, Trump boldly stated, “Crime is down all over the world, except here. Crime here is up and through the roof, despite their fraudulent statements that they made.” He further emphasized the emergence of what he termed “migrant crime,” claiming it was occurring at unprecedented levels.
At the time, Trump’s comments were met with skepticism, including a visible disagreement from Vice President Kamala Harris and a challenge from ABC News moderator David Muir. Muir referenced FBI data suggesting a decline in overall violent crime, to which Trump responded, “Excuse me the FBI defrauded. They were defrauding statements. They didn’t include the worst cities.”
Recent developments have lent credence to Trump’s claims. John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center and former Justice Department senior adviser, has highlighted the FBI’s revised data for 2022. The updated figures show a 4.5 percent increase in violent crime compared to the previous year, translating to 80,029 more violent crimes, including increases in murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults.
NEW: FBI updates crime statistics showing that violent crime *increased* not decreased.
Trump was fact-checked during the debate after he (correctly) asserted that crime had increased.
New data reveals violent crime increased in 2022 by 4.5%, not decreased like the left… pic.twitter.com/ky4Y2pPf6j
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 16, 2024
The revision has raised eyebrows among criminologists and researchers. Carl Moody, a professor at the College of William & Mary specializing in crime studies, noted the unusual nature of such significant revisions, stating that previous years saw minimal changes, if any. Similarly, David Mustard, a professor at the University of Georgia, described the FBI’s lack of explanation for the substantial revision as “stunning.”
This development has led to questions about the reliability of crime statistics and the potential for similar revisions in future reports. Some observers speculate that 2023 crime statistics might also undergo upward revisions, potentially after the upcoming election.
NEW—Just like it’s had to repeatedly revise economic figures to remove hundreds of thousands of nonexistent jobs, the Biden admin is now quietly revising crime data to add tens of thousands of missing crimes.
Turns out your eyes (and Trump) were correct and the media was wrong:… pic.twitter.com/doco9U2RGO
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 16, 2024
The situation is further complicated by the incomplete nature of crime reporting. The New York Post pointed out that even the FBI’s 2024 quarterly report, which showed a decrease in violent crime, was based on data from only 72% of the law enforcement population.
As this story unfolds, it underscores the importance of accurate and transparent crime reporting in informing public policy and debate. The revisions have not only vindicated Trump’s earlier claims but have also ignited a broader discussion on the integrity of crime statistics and their role in shaping public perception and policy decisions.
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