While violent crime is trending down, Washington remains too dangerous. In significant part, this is the consequence of city politicians such as Brianne Nadeau and Charles Allen who play to far-left agendas that protect criminals over the interests of city residents. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to bring law and order back to the fold. But is that really the case?
We need to ask that question because Edward R. Martin Jr., Trump’s pick to lead criminal prosecutions in the District of Columbia, seems determined to prioritize a war on the First Amendment instead of targeting violent criminals. Consider what the interim U.S. attorney for the district posted to X on Monday.
This message references the Associated Press’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over its restriction of the AP from entering the Oval Office and other areas. These restrictions follow the AP’s refusal to adopt the Trump administration’s preferred nomenclature of the “Gulf of America” in place of the “Gulf of Mexico.” But its misplaced apostrophe notwithstanding, this message is a truly embarrassing one for a federal prosecutor to release. Indeed, the prosecutor’s pledge to be “vigilant” in “standing against” a media outlet because said outlet is deemed not “to put America first” is prima facie un-American.
The sacred principle of the First Amendment is the right of the people, media included, to speak free of undue government interference and sanction. Subjective opinion, such as the AP’s choice over what to call the Gulf, receives special protection under the First Amendment. Failing to realize as much, Martin needs to go back to law school. After all, this explicit threat against a media outlet for its speech is plainly at odds with the Constitution and associated case law. It is a claim so devoid of legal merit that a first-year, first-semester law student would find it embarrassing.
Sadly, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Martin’s misplaced priorities. As the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression documents, Martin revels in efforts to harass people for practicing their First Amendment rights. Countering violent crime appears to be far less of a priority for Martin. Trump’s appointee has already harmed that cause by firing 30 prosecutors who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Whatever you think of those specific prosecutions, considering that the district has a well-known shortage of prosecutors, Martin’s action will only further delay the speedy trial of violent criminals and likely lead to a larger number of lenient plea bargains in order to clear court dockets. It will make city residents less safe.
THE CHALLENGE AND NECESSITY OF PEACEKEEPING TROOPS FOR UKRAINE
What we see here, then, is the chasm between Trump’s tough-on-crime rhetoric and his appointment of unqualified officials to important posts simply because of their skill in salivating at his feet.
Whatever this is, it’s not making Washington great again, and it’s certainly not making America great again.
