[PR] Statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia in Response to Mayor Muriel Bowser's Press Conference Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 31, 2020

WASHINGTON – Over the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has charged more than 9,500 cases, which include more than 2,500 felony cases.  Specifically, with regard to the spike in protest-related violence throughout the District this summer, the Office aggressively charged 121 criminal cases from May 28, 2020 to August 1, 2020.  These cases included assault and battery on local police officers and federal agents, arson cases, and the destruction of both private and government property.  Most recently, over this past weekend alone, the Office brought criminal charges against five individuals linked to protest-related violence – two of those cases involved assaults on police officers. 

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s public statement today related to the United States Attorney’s Office reluctant to prosecute “68 outstanding arrest warrants” is patently false and serves no purpose other than to pass blame and foster innuendo.  Since the protests began, this Office has never turned down a single case for prosecution in which there was sufficient evidence to support probable cause.

The Office remains committed to keeping the community safe, but also holds true to the rule of law and constitutional protections for all citizens.