>>> NOW TO THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

WERE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS HAVE AND DEPLOYED.

PRESIDENT TRUMP FOULS TWO, QUOTE, TAKE OUR CAPITAL BACK.

THE STATISTICS POINT TO CRIME NUMBERS FALLING .

DC COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO WAS SELECTED IN 2020 AS THE YOUNGEST COUNCILMEMBER IN THE DISTRICT HISTORY.

SHE IS JOINING MICHEL MARTIN TO BREAK DOWN THE CLAIMS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS EVEN POSSIBLE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE OVER A LOCAL POLICE FORCE .

EVEN FOR 30 DAYS.

AS BRIEFLY AS YOU CAN CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW IT IS THAT THAT IS >> YES.

FIRST LET ME BE VERY CLEAR.

THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT TAKEN OVER THE POLICE FORCE.

OUR POLICE FORCE IS STILL RUN BY CHIEF SMITH WHO IS THE CHIEF OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY REPORT TO MAYOR BOWSER.

WE HAVE OVERSIGHT .

THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

>> WITH THAT CLARIFICATION HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO WHATEVER IT IS HE SAYS HE'S DOING, TO FEDERALIZE THE POLICE EVEN FOR 30 DAYS WHICH IS WHAT THE LAW CURRENTLY PERMITS.

>> DC IS A VERY UNIQUE JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE ARE NOT ESTATE.

WE ARE A FEDERAL DISTRICT AND WE FUNCTION CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE ALL IN ONE.

IN 1973 CONGRESS PASSED THE HOME RULE ACT WHICH ESSENTIALLY AUTHORIZED THE DISTRICT TO HAVE OUR OWN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE THE CITY, TO MANAGE WHAT MANAGE OUR OWN POLICE, SCHOOLS, STREET, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OVER 700,000 DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO CALL IT HOME.

THERE IS A PROVISION OF THE HOME RULE CHARTER THAT ALLOWS THE PRESIDENT DURING AN EMERGENCY WHICH IS BROADLY DEFINED, THAT HE OR SHE CAN CALL ON SERVICES FROM THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 30 DAYS.

HE AND HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, THAT IS WHAT THE LANGUAGE SAYS.

IT MIRRORS WHAT IS IN THE HOME RULE ACT THAT SAYS THERE IS AN EMERGENCY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT ALLOWS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CALL ON SERVICES FROM MPD.

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS STILL RUN BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

>> CAN WE TAKE THIS PIECE BY FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU AGREE THERE'S AN EMERGENCY?

>> EVERY PERSON SHOULD BE SAFE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WHETHER YOU LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, A TOURIST OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS WHEN IT'S COME TO PUBLIC SAFETY ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I SHARE --CHAIR THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

I PUT TOGETHER LAST YEAR THE SINGLE LARGEST PIECE OF PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION IN OUR CITY HISTORY WITH OVER 100 DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT CRIMES, HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE AND IMPROVE GOVERNMENT COORDINATION.

SINCE WE PASS THAT ALL WE'VE SEEN VIOLENT CRIME GO DOWN BY NEARLY 50%.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS WE'VE HAD IN 30 YEARS.

I BELIEVE THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THAT NO MATTER WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN YOU ARE SAFE.

I AM LASER FOCUSED ON CONTINUING THAT WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE IT'S A REALITY.

TO DECLARE THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO WE NEED TO BE PARTNERS IN OTHER WAYS, NOT IN THIS WAY.

>> WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SAW AND PRESUMABLY WATCHED THE PRESS CONFERENCE?

>> FIRST HE SEEMED TO BE TALKING ABOUT A CITY THAT IS NOT MY HOME.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A CITY WHERE NOBODY IS SAFE.

NOBODY CAN WALK DOWN THE STREETS.

THAT'S NOT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO ARE WONDERFUL, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

WHO ARE PART OF THE THRIVING AND BEAUTIFUL CITY .

IT ALSO SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED GOOD TO HIM, SOUNDS LIKE A FIX.

CRIME IS COMPLICATED.

SERIOUS SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

FOR INSTANCE, HE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ENOUGH OFFICERS TO GUIDE FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE.

I THINK WE NEED HUNDREDS OF MORE OFFICERS THAT ARE THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, MEANING THEY GET TRAINED THROUGH OUR POLICE ACADEMY THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY KNOW OUR LOCAL LAWS AND THE UNIQUE INTERPLAY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MEANING THEY WHERE BODY WORN CAMERAS AND ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF DC IF THERE'S AN ISSUE.

JUST TO SAY WE WILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL GUARDSMEN GOING THROUGH THE STREETS WHO ARE NOT TRAINED FOR THIS .

IT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

TO ME THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN EASY FIX THAT WILL ACTUALLY SOLVE THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WE HAVE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SERIOUS PROBLEM IS?

THE IMMEDIATE PREDICATE OF THE ACTION SEEMS TO BE THAT AN AD APPOINTED TO SEEK WHAT THEY CLAIM WAS WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE SO THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY HEADED BY ELON MUSK AND POPULATED BY A NUMBER OF VERY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WENT AFTER FEDERAL AGENCIES LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CUT THEM AND DID.

THE IMMEDIATE PREDICATE SEEMS TO BE THAT A MEMBER OF THIS TEAM WAS ASSAULTED EARLY IN THE MORNING AFTER A NIGHT OUT.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER DISTURBING INCIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT WHICH ARE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARTICULAR THING THAT MOTIVATES THIS.

>> WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE ILLEGAL GUNS OFF THE STREET.

THAT IS THE CONSISTENT ELEMENT IN SO MANY OF THESE CASES THAT WE SEE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WASHINGTON, D.C. IS NO DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE ILLEGAL GUNS FLOWING IN.

WE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT --IF THEY WANT TO BE HELPFUL WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMONSENSE GUN CONTROL REFORMS.

WE NEED THEM TO DO THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATE OF VIRGINIA AS WELL WHICH WE ARE SEEING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE ILLEGAL GUNS COME FROM.

THAT'S A HUGE PART THAT CANNOT BE MISSED HERE.

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MOTIVATES THE PRESIDENT.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIM.

I THINK YOUR ESTIMATION IS PROBABLY ACCURATE THAT THERE WAS A PERSON HE KNEW OR THAT WAS TIED TO HIS ADMINISTRATION SO THIS IS THE IMPETUS.

IT DOES NOT MIRROR THE FACT ON THE GROUND THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS DECREASING EACH MONTH.

WE ARE AT A 30 YEAR LOW.

WITH THAT SAID, I DO NOT WANT TO BELITTLE THE REAL EXPERIENCE OF VICTIMS OF CRIME .

WHILE WE ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THERE IS MORE TO DO.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS THERE ARE OTHER, BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE AVENUES TO DO IT THROUGH LOCAL LAWS, THROUGH THE SENATE HAVE MANY VACANCIES ON OUR LOCAL COURT THROUGH OUR U.S. ATTORNEY PROCESSING THESE CASES, I CONGRESS FILLING THE $1 BILLION BUDGET GAP THAT THEY TOOK FROM OUR .

>> THEY SAID THE CITY WAS OVERRUN BY BLOODTHIRSTY CRIMINALS, ROVING MOBS OF WILD YOUTH, DRUGGED OUT MANIACS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE .

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> NOT ONLY IS THAT LANGUAGE SO OFFENSIVE FOR SO MANY REASONS, IT IS NOT THE SERIOUS WORK OF GOVERNMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT IS HERE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

WE KNOW THAT VERY WELL IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WE SEE PROBLEMS AND RESOLVE THEM.

BUSINESS OF DOING.

WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS, FOR INSTANCE.

WE DID HAVE A MAJOR SPIKE IN PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC THAT WAS THE RESULT OF A NUMBER OF THINGS INCLUDING THE CDC SAYING IT WASN'T SAFE TO LIVE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE MOVED OUTSIDE AND WERE LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS.

I VISITED THOSE ENCAMPMENTS AND I PUT TOGETHER A PLAN WITH THE COLLEAGUES, THE MAYOR, HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDERS AND WE STARTED WHAT WE CALLED THE CARE PILOT WHERE WE WENT TO THE LARGEST ENCAMPMENT SITES AND SET FOR 30 DAYS WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SERVICES YOU NEED.

WE WILL CONNECT YOU TO HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IF YOU NEED IT.

AT THE END OF THE 30 DAYS WE ARE CLOSING DOWN THE PARK TO CAMPING.

WHEN WE DID THAT WE SAW 84% OF THOSE PEOPLE MOVE INDOORS TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

WE STARTED ANOTHER NEW MODEL IN WORD TWO WHERE I REPRESENT FOR TRANSITIONAL BRIDGE HOUSING TO SAY IF YOU ARE LIVING OUTSIDE AS YOU ARE WAITING FOR A PERMANENT APARTMENT OR VOUCHER TO BECOME AVAILABLE YOU CAN COME INSIDE AND GET FULL-TIME CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT AND MEALS.

IT'S CALLED TRANSITIONAL BRIDGE HOUSING WHICH WE NOW HAVE AND WE ARE SEEING MAJOR SUCCESS .

WE HAVE TO DO MORE AS THE NATIONS CAPITAL TO ENSURE EVERY PERSON CAN LIVE INDOORS WITH DIGNITY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE ARE SAFE FOR ANYBODY TO BE LIVING OUTSIDE.

THERE IS A PROCESS TO DO SO >> JEANINE PIRRO, FORMER FOX NEWS PERSONALITY WHO HAD BEEN CONFIRMED FOR THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SHE SAID AT THE SAME PRESS ANNOUNCED THIS INITIATIVE SHE SEES A PROBLEM WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

SHE SAID NOBODY HAS BEEN ARRESTING THEM BECAUSE THE SUPERIOR COURTS IN THE OFFICE HAS NO JURISDICTION BECAUSE THE DC CITY COUNCIL HAS PREVENTED MY OFFICE FROM PROSECUTING ANYONE THAT IS 14, 15, 16, 17 YEARS AGO --OLD.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE TRUTH OR FALSITY OF THAT NAME?

>> FIRST, I WORK WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY JUST AS I HAVE WORKED WITH EVERY U.S. ATTORNEY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY HANDLE IN THE FEDERALLY APPOINTED ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ADULT PROSECUTIONS.

OUR LOCAL ATTORNEY GENERAL HANDLES JUVENILE PROSECUTIONS.

THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF SOME LAW THAT WAS PASSED.

THAT'S THE WAY THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

ABSOLUTELY INACCURATE TO SAY THAT THEY CAN BE ARRESTED.

THEY ARE ARRESTED EVERY DAY WHETHER A JUVENILE OR AN ADULT.. JUVENILE IT WILL GO THROUGH THE YOUTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IT AND ADULT WOULD GO THROUGH THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THAT IS AN ACCURACY NUMBER ONE.

SECOND, THE U.S. ATTORNEY OFTEN BRINGS CASES AGAINST JUVENILES IN FEDERAL COURT WHICH ALLOWS THEM IF IT WAS WITH A WEAPON OR A LOT OF VICTIMS.

THAT IS ALREADY PRACTICE THAT HAPPENS WITH THE PREVIOUS U.S. ATTORNEY AND CURRENT U.S. ATTORNEY.

I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS AND ARE NOT INVOLVED AND ARE BEING KIDS.

I WANT YOUR VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS OVER 700,000 RESIDENTS INCLUDING KIDS WHO ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE MAJORITY OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES ARE STILL BEING COMMITTED I MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 35.

THIS IDEA THAT IT IS ALL JUVENILES IS ALSO FALSE.

>> IS YOUR BASIC TAKE ON THIS ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INITIATIVE HERE THAT IT IS UNNECESSARY OR IT IS DELETERIOUS AND IT'S ONLY OR JUST THE IDEA IS OFFENSIVE TO PEOPLE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT?

>> SENDING IN NATIONAL GUARDS TO OUR CITY WHO ARE UNTRAINED IN OUR LOCAL LAWS, DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR CHALLENGES IS UNDERMINING TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BUILD UP TRUST AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS DC TO DRIVE DOWN VIOLENT CRIME.

IF THERE IS SOMEBODY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IS ROLLING THROUGH IN MILITARY UNIFORM WITH A TANK, THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMEBODY THAT YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO ABOUT A CRIME THAT YOU SAW ON YOUR BLOCK.

THEY ARE NOT TRAINED IN LOCAL LAWS THE WAY THAT THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE.

WHILE I'M A BIG POLICE -- BELIEVER THAT WE NEED TO BOLSTER THE SIZE OF OUR FORCE JUST HAVING NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORT COME IN WITHOUT CLEAR DIRECTION OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS NOT USEFUL AND CAN BE HARMFUL.

>> ARE YOU WORRIED THERE IS A MIXED MESSAGE HERE?

THERE'S ALSO THE CASE THAT THE PRESIDENT PARDON ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK AT THE CAPITAL WHICH INJURED LAW ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING 60 OFFICERS AT THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT .

SOME OF WHOM ARE SO SEVERELY INJURED THEY COULD NOT RETURN TO THEIR DUTIES.

YOU WORRY THAT THERE IS A MIXED MESSAGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE ENTIRE THING IS SO INCONSISTENT.

IT ALSO USED TO BE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT SUPPORTED DECISIONS BEING MADE BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT .

THAT HAS GONE OUT THE WINDOW IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S NOT SERIOUS BUSINESS.

I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT A MIXED MESSAGE LIKE THAT.

MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE SAFE TO EVERY PERSON THAT COMES HERE AND LIVES HERE .

I WILL ALWAYS BE FOCUSED ON CONTINUING THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY IS A REALITY FOR EVERYONE .

WE WILL DO SO WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES WE HAVE IN OUR UNIQUE SITUATION AS A NONSTATE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> SO IF I DON'T PLAN TO VISIT ANY TIME SOON WHY DO I CARE?

>> GOVERNORS --GOVERNMENT AT THE CORE SHOULD BE USED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND HELP PEOPLE.

MAKING OUR LOCAL CITY OR ANY JURISDICTION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ESSENTIALLY A MILITARY ZONE SO YOU CAN SOUND PUBLIC SAFETY IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AND DISCONCERTING AND IS NOT THE AMERICA THAT I AM PROUD OF AND NOT THE AMERICA I KNOW RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WANT TO LIVE IN.

EVERY PERSON DESERVES TO BE SAFE.

EVERY PERSON DESERVES TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND EVERY PERSON DESERVES TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT WHETHER IT IS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF ON SERIOUS SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.

THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS SOLUTION.

IT IS WHAT IS SO TROUBLESOME TO ME.

TODAY IT IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. .

WE NEED TO HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE SO EITHER OR .

I DON'T WANT DEMOCRATS BUT IN THIS POSITION FOLLOWING THIS ACTION OF SAYING THERE IS NO CRIME AT ALL AND NO CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT'S NOT ACCURATE EITHER.

THAT'S WHY I'M BEING VERY CLEAR THAT WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ARE NOT IN A CRIME EMERGENCY.

WE ARE HAVING A CRIME SPIKE.

WE ARE HAVING THE LOWEST VIOLENT CRIME IN 30 YEARS, BUT THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO.

THAT'S THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT THAT I'M WORKING ON EVERY DAY ALONGSIDE OUR COLLEAGUES AND MAYOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.