Monday’s signing by President Joe Biden of a measure to repeal changes to the D.C. Criminal Code was a break with his progressive party wing and a bold-on-crime stand ahead of his likely re-election bid.
The Senate passed the GOP-backed bill earlier this month. This would reverse changes to Washington, D.C.’s criminal code. In February, the House passed this resolution. Biden was under attack by Republicans for his soft stance on crime. stated that he would not veto ‘s bill if Congress passed them, surprising members in his own party.
In a Tweet, Biden stated that “I support D.C. Statehood” and home-rule. However, he didn’t support certain changes D.C. Council made over objections from the Mayor — such as lowering penalties to carjackings.” “If the Senate votes against what D.C. Council did, I’ll sign it.”
NBC’s Washington outlet reported that the Council of the District of Columbia had overhauled the district’s criminal code late last year. The bill would have changed Washington’s approach towards crime by eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and reducing the mandatory maximum penalties. Mayor Muriel Bowser opposed the proposed changes to Washington’s criminal code. She claimed they would make Washington’s capital less safe. She urged Congress to not interfere with the sovereignty of the district.
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.’s non-voting delegate) called the legislation an “attack upon home rule” at a rally just before the Senate vote.
Norton, a Democrat, stated that “We have come together today to share one simple message for Congress & President Biden: Keep you hands off D.C.” You can either support D.C.’s home rule or not. There are no exceptions to the rule and there is no middle ground regarding D.C.’s right of self-government.
Following the announcement by Biden, D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson tried to withdraw the measure form Congress to stop its repeal. But, Senate leadership aides stated that it was too late.
Many Senate Democrats opposed the resolution. They affirmed their support for D.C. Statehood and argued that it only brought the city’s criminal codes in line with those of other states.
In a Tweet, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) stated that the debate over the bill had gone “a little off the rails”.
He wrote that the bill lowers carjacking’s maximum sentence to 24 years. However, it is in line with many other states. “And the bill INCREASES sentences to attempted murder, attempted sexual attack, misdemeanor sex abuse, and many other criminal offenses.”
“When you read the bill and compare it with other criminal codes, it is astonishing to me that somehow it has been perverted to be seen to be some kind of lax loosening penalty on people doing wrong,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said during a caucus meeting before the Senate vote.
However, Sen. Bill Hagerty (Republican from Tenn.), who sponsored the Senate resolution, stated in a statement , that visitors and residents of the nation’s capital would “breathe easier now” after Biden signed it.
He said, “I am pleased President Biden has finally admitted that there is a problem with violent crime in our nation’s Capital and that Congress can play a vital part in ensuring that D.C. Council’s soft-oncrime measure doesn’t become law.”
