The huge changes in 2021 and 2022 have made it difficult to trust the FBI data.
Two years ago, it became evident that the FBI's yearly crime statistics were being distorted. At that time, I expressed my concerns in an article titled “Biden and Harris Collude to Cover Up the Crime Scene,” where I pointed out that Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and their Democratic allies were trying to shift focus away from the alarming rise in murder and violence that surged in 2020, which I described as a crime epidemic.
Earlier that same year, Democrats initiated their “summer of rage” protests leading up to the 2020 election, claiming that systemic racism was deeply embedded in our justice system. This assertion was misleading. They backed the violent actions of groups like Black Lives Matter and antifa while simultaneously attacking law enforcement. In cities governed by Democrats, mayors implemented policies that not only released criminals but also cut funding for police departments.
Harris was a prominent voice in the 2020 movement to defund the police, arguing that the traditional belief that more police would lead to greater safety was fundamentally flawed. This approach of inciting riots and reducing police presence raised serious concerns about public safety. It makes one wonder what the consequences of such actions could be.
In an interesting turn of events, after Biden assumed the presidency in 2021, the FBI and the Department of Justice made significant changes to how crime data was gathered across the country. This shift, which seemed to obscure the true statistics on violent crime, caught my attention because I have been analyzing crime data for many years. My research has often served as the foundation for my writings, including pieces like “Race and Violence: A Politically Inconvenient Truth.” The new methods of reporting crime data seemed to downplay or completely overlook crucial information.
I believe in the straightforward idea that if something is functioning well, there’s no need to change it. However, it seems that the FBI, which faced serious challenges to its credibility during the Trump administration, decided to alter the data collection process to suit the current Biden/Harris administration. This raises questions about the integrity of the information being presented to the public.
As we approach the upcoming presidential election, the FBI's 2023 crime report claimed a surprising 2.1% decrease in violent crime from 2020 to 2023. This news is certainly convenient for the Harris/Walz campaign. Yet, this minor reduction in crime statistics feels similar to the slight dip in inflation rates; despite the numbers looking better on paper, the reality is that both crime and prices have continued to rise during Harris's time in office.
The FBI's approach to "crime reduction" under Biden and Harris was evident in their promotion of a gun-confiscation agenda back in June, just before Harris distanced herself from Biden. Biden claimed that the year prior to his presidency saw the highest murder rate increase on record, but he also stated that last year marked the largest decrease in murders ever recorded. He pointed out that violent crime rates had dropped significantly, with murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, and property crime all seeing sharp declines.
However, this narrative has been challenged, particularly by Trump, who has repeatedly countered Harris's assertions that crime is decreasing, similar to their claims about inflation. During the debate between Trump and Harris, it was clear that the ABC moderators were leaning in favor of Harris, attempting to fact-check Trump in real-time regarding crime statistics. Trump firmly stated that crime rates were soaring, despite the claims made by the current administration, emphasizing that the situation was dire.
In response to Trump's comments, ABC's David Muir pointed out that the FBI reported an overall decline in violent crime. Trump quickly rebutted, arguing that the FBI's data was misleading because it excluded the cities with the highest crime rates. He labeled the statistics as fraudulent, asserting that they did not accurately reflect the reality of crime in America, particularly in the most affected urban areas.
It has become clear, as we suspected before and have now confirmed, that while ABC can be labeled as “false,” Trump’s statements can often be categorized as “mostly true.” The FBI did not engage in outright “fraud,” but their actions were certainly misleading, and the timing of these actions raises questions about whether the deception was deliberate.
As Trump pointed out, the FBI has been omitting some of the most troubling data since it revised its reporting methods in 2021. This is a point I highlighted in a column two years ago. Recent findings reveal that violent crime remains 40% higher than it was before the summer of protests in 2020, and the FBI's 2023 report shows that the upward trend in violent crime did not reverse in 2022, despite their claims.
The updated FBI data includes thousands of previously unreported incidents, such as 1,699 murders, 7,780 rapes, over 33,000 robberies, and more than 37,000 aggravated assaults. The revised figures indicate that violent crime actually increased by 4.5% in 2022, which is a significant change. As crime researcher Carl Moody from the College of William and Mary noted, the drastic alterations in the data for 2021 and 2022, especially without clear explanations, make it hard to trust the FBI's statistics. Regarding the FBI's recent report claiming a 3% decline in violent crime for 2023, it’s important to note that only 85% of crime data was submitted to the FBI this year, and there’s no indication of when the actual numbers will be updated.
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