DC Crime Crackdown Tests Federal Prosecutors

A Bloomberg Law investigation finds federal prosecutors in DC dismissed or downgraded many felony assault cases brought under Trump's crime crackdown, resulting in only a few convictions. Editor-at-Large Keith Alexander discusses how charges such as throwing a sandwich or spitting were filed as felonies, then reduced or dismissed, disrupting defendants' lives and raising questions about prosecutorial pressure. Despite thousands of National Guard troops remaining in the capital through January 2029, crime is now up year-over-year. - Federal prosecutors charged 27 felony assault cases in DC after National Guard deployment but obtained only four convictions. - Many felony charges were reduced to misdemeanors or dismissed after defense challenges over federal jurisdiction. - The Subway sandwich incident became an iconic case: the defendant lost his job, was acquitted, and says his life is ruined. - A woman with PTSD who spat and kicked officers after being grabbed had her felony charge dismissed, and the prosecutor resigned. - Defense attorneys argue prosecutors filed charges with insufficient merit, possibly violating ethical rules. - Crime in Washington DC is now up 2% year-over-year despite over 4,000 National Guard personnel patrolling streets through 2029. - The investigation raises questions about prosecutorial pressure from higher authorities and the legal authority of charging National Guard interactions as federal crimes.