WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven says it’s “common sense” to shore up security for the nation’s capital and defended President Trump’s actions to federalize D.C. police and deployment of National Guard Troops.
“People want to be safe and it’s long past time that we make sure that people are safe in our nation’s capital,” said Hoeven at a Wednesday news conference alongside other U.S. lawmakers.
Hoeven cited data showing that crime has gone down since the move was made.
Individual categories included homicides which are down 58%, sex abuse crimes that are down 40% and a 57% drop in robberies.
Hoeven backed the use of National Guard members to supplement the crimefighting effort by the Metropolitan Police Department.
“These are military police units,” said Hoeven. “As a matter of fact, a lot of those guard members probably in their civilian work are law enforcement.”
Despite objections from local leaders, President Trump has teased the possibility of sending more National Guard troops into other high crime cities like Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans.
