Biden signs measure to block D.C. criminal reforms

Perceived by many as soft-on-crime, the D.C. City Council plan would have cut maximum sentences for criminal offenses and eliminated most mandatory sentences altogether.

By Ben Whedon

On Monday, President Joe Biden signed into law a congressional override of changes to the Washington, D.C., criminal code that would have relaxed penalties for violent crimes.

The Senate voted 81-14 in favor of the plan earlier this month after Biden indicated he would not veto any congressional override. The GOP-led House in February passed the block by a 250-173 margin.

Perceived by many as soft-on-crime, the D.C. City Council plan would have cut maximum sentences for criminal offenses and eliminated most mandatory sentences altogether. D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the proposed changes, but was overruled by the City Council.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy celebrated Biden's signing of the billon on Monday, saying "[t]hanks to the leadership of House Republicans, Congress blocked Washington, D.C.’s proposed soft-on-crime criminal code rewrite that treated violent criminals like victims and discarded the views of law enforcement."

"Congress sent a message to every city, county, and state that any policy that makes life difficult for police and easy for criminals is unacceptable," he continued. "House Republicans are committed to delivering the safe streets, safe schools, and safe communities that every American deserves."

Prior to the Senate vote, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson had attempted to withdraw the proposed changes, but Republicans insisted on going forward with the vote. Tennessee GOP Sen. Bill Hagerty said at the time that "[n]o matter how hard they try, the Council cannot avoid accountability for passing this disastrous, dangerous D.C. soft-on-crime bill that will make residents and visitors less safe."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.