Bowser, Pirro Unveil 'Protecting Victims Act of 2026' to Combat Rising Domestic Violence Mayor Muriel Bowser and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the "Protecting Victims Amendment Act of 2026" on April 24, 2026, during a joint event with District public safety leaders. The legislation aims to address the surge in domestic violence incidents, particularly those involving dangerous weapons, which have become a growing concern despite a decline in overall violent crime in Washington, D.C. According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Jeffery Carroll, domestic violence-related assaults now account for 30% of the city’s homicides this year. While violent crime rates have decreased year-to-date, the rise in domestic violence homicides has prompted officials to seek stronger enforcement measures. U.S. Attorney Pirro emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “Even as overall crime declines, the persistence of domestic violence—and the tragic rise in domestic violence homicides—underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement tools.” The proposed bill includes several key provisions designed to enhance protections for survivors and increase accountability for offenders. These measures include elevating repeated violations of temporary and civil protection orders to felony offenses, granting courts greater authority to detain abusers before trial, and modernizing the kidnapping statute to create a "felony unlawful entry" charge for cases where an offender enters a home and commits an assault. Additionally, the legislation introduces sentencing enhancements for violence against pregnant victims and establishes a new offense for crimes committed in the presence of a child.#jeanine_pirro #metropolitan_police_department #muriel_bowser #jeffery_carroll #lindsey_appiah
DC Officials Outline Legislation to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors, Crack Down on Abusers D.C. officials are advancing a new legislative package aimed at enhancing protections for domestic violence survivors and imposing stricter penalties on perpetrators. The proposed legislation, known as the Protecting Victims Act of 2026, was announced by Mayor Muriel Bowser alongside U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro. The bill seeks to strengthen enforcement of court orders, increase pretrial detention for domestic violence offenders, improve accountability for abusers, and safeguard the privacy of victims and survivors. Key provisions of the act include classifying repeat violations of temporary and civil protection orders as felonies. It also grants courts greater authority to detain individuals charged with domestic violence offenses and designates unlawful entry into a home to commit assault as a felony. A new crime will be created for offenses committed in the presence of a child, a measure Pirro emphasized as critical to addressing the long-term trauma inflicted on children exposed to domestic violence. Pirro highlighted the absence of a specific charge for domestic violence cases involving children, stating, “We’ve got to make that a crime, because there is no question that the consequences are long-term in terms of that child learning that violence is the only way to resolve conflict in their lives based upon what they are seeing between their parents or intimate partners.” She also called for enhanced sentencing for offenders who strangle their partners, noting that her office has filed 90 felony strangulation cases so far in 2026 and expects to file 360 by year’s end. Pirro pointed out that while strangulation was reclassified as a felony under the Secure D.C.#jeanine_pirro #d_c #muriel_bowser #protecting_victims_act_2026 #d_c_safe
Trump Threatens to Fire Powell If Fed Chair Doesn't Leave Office on His Own President Donald Trump reiterated his threat to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell from office if the central bank chair does not resign before his term ends, escalating tensions over Powell’s continued role as a Fed governor. During an interview on Fox Business, Trump stated that he would have Powell fired if the chair remained in his position after his successor, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, is confirmed. The president emphasized that he had delayed the action to avoid controversy but warned that Powell’s tenure would end if he did not step down voluntarily. Powell’s term as chair expires on May 15, 2026, but he holds a dual role as a Fed governor, which allows him to stay in the position for an additional two years. While most past Fed chairs have resigned after being replaced, Powell has remained in his role as chair despite repeated questions about his plans post-confirmation. His continued presence has been complicated by an ongoing investigation into the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who led the probe, attempted to issue a subpoena to Powell for information but faced a judicial rejection. Pirro has vowed to appeal the decision, signaling the probe’s persistence. Trump has also demanded that the investigation into the renovation project continue, accusing the Fed of both corruption and incompetence. “What they’ve done to that so it is probably corrupt, but what it really is is incompetent, and we have to show the incompetence of that,” Trump said during the interview. The renovation project has drawn scrutiny for its cost overruns and delays, with critics arguing it reflects mismanagement within the central bank.#trump #jeanine_pirro #jerome_powell #kevin_warsh #fed
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Subpoenas Blocked by Judge A federal judge has ruled to block subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve as part of a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell, by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s office for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro. The court filing, disclosed on Friday, revealed that the judge’s decision prevents the prosecutors from compelling the Fed to provide documents or testimony related to the probe. The case centers on allegations tied to Powell’s involvement in costly renovations of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters and his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee regarding the project. Pirro is scheduled to provide an update on the investigation during a public statement on Friday afternoon. The timing of her announcement coincides with ongoing political tensions, as Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has reiterated his opposition to confirming Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace Powell as Fed chair. Tillis has stated he will not lift his block on Warsh’s nomination until the investigation of Powell is fully resolved. This legislative stalemate highlights the intersection of legal scrutiny and political maneuvering in the Federal Reserve’s leadership. Powell himself confirmed he became aware of the investigation by Pirro’s office, though he has not disclosed specific details about the allegations. The probe has drawn significant attention due to its potential implications for both the Fed’s independence and the broader economic policy landscape. Meanwhile, the legal battle over subpoenas underscores the challenges faced by prosecutors in accessing sensitive financial information, even as they navigate judicial oversight and political pressures.#federal_reserve #jeanine_pirro #jerome_powell #senate_banking_committee #thom_tillis
DOJ's Ed Martin Faces Ethics Charges Over Threatening Letter to Georgetown University The D.C. Bar’s disciplinary office has filed ethics charges against Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin, alleging misconduct related to a threatening letter he sent to Georgetown University Law Center in 2023. The letter, which was disclosed in court filings, criticized the law school’s diversity and inclusion policies and led to sanctions against its students. The case was made public on Tuesday through filings in the D.C. Court of Appeals’ Board on Professional Responsibility. In the letter dated February 17, Martin, who was serving as interim U.S. attorney at the time, accused Georgetown of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and demanded changes. He claimed a whistleblower had raised concerns about the school’s approach to DEI education. Without awaiting a response, he instructed his office staff to stop employing Georgetown students as fellows, interns, or employees at the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office. Georgetown’s former dean, William Treanor, responded by condemning the letter as an “attack on the University’s mission as a Jesuit and Catholic institution.” The disciplinary complaint, authored by Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton “Phil” Fox III, argues that Martin’s actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments by using his official position to coerce the law school into altering its curriculum and teaching methods. The filing states that Martin’s demands effectively sought to suppress free speech and religious rights in exchange for employment opportunities for Georgetown students. The Justice Department has criticized the D.C. Bar, calling it a partisan entity.#pam_bondi #ed_martin #dcbar #georgetown_university #jeanine_pirro
