WASHINGTON, D.C. – Appearing on CNN’s The Lead Monday, D.C. City Councilwoman Brooke Pinto (D) acknowledged that U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro was correct in saying there have been “a lot of gaps” in the city’s criminal justice system. Pinto said some of those gaps have already been addressed through her legislation, with more fixes recently enacted.
Pirro’s Criticism of D.C. Laws
Host Jake Tapper introduced the discussion by playing a clip of Pirro criticizing what she sees as overly lenient local laws. In the clip, Pirro said the D.C. Council allows judges to grant probation even in shooting cases, supports youth rehabilitation measures like the Incarceration Reduction Act, and is moving toward sealing criminal records — all of which, she argued, undermine prosecutors’ efforts.
Pirro also criticized the inability to automatically try 14–17-year-olds accused of gun crimes as adults, saying this limits accountability for serious offenses.
Pinto’s Response: Legislative Changes Already Made
Pinto responded that she agreed there were systemic shortcomings, which is why she introduced Secure D.C. — a public safety package aimed at tightening laws.
“We gave more discretion to judges to hold violent offenders pre-trial,” Pinto explained. “We increased penalties for carjacking and for gun-related offenses. We changed the composition of the Sentencing Commission to make sure it was more balanced.”
She added that her Peace D.C. bill, passed in June, builds on those reforms and “fills some more of those gaps,” showing her commitment to continually reviewing and strengthening laws to ensure community safety.
Juvenile Prosecution Debate
Tapper pressed Pinto on Pirro’s specific criticism regarding juveniles with firearms, asking if she opposed trying 16-year-olds as adults. Pinto emphasized that accountability should apply regardless of age, but noted that D.C. has separate systems for juvenile and adult prosecutions.
Juvenile cases are handled by the D.C. Attorney General, while adult cases fall under the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Pinto clarified that federal prosecutors already have the discretion to try certain juveniles as adults — a practice she said occurs “with somewhat regularity.”
“These claims that this can never happen are not true,” Pinto stated.
Focus on Safety and Balance
Throughout the interview, Pinto framed her legislative approach as one that strengthens accountability while ensuring a fair justice process. She stressed that her priority is maintaining public safety and the well-being of residents, while keeping an open mind to further legal changes if gaps remain.
Both Secure D.C. and Peace D.C. reflect what she described as a “balanced” approach — enhancing penalties for violent crime, giving judges more authority to detain offenders before trial, and making sentencing oversight more representative, while maintaining due process protections.
The exchange comes amid heightened public debate over crime policy in the District, with federal and local officials often at odds over how to handle youth offenders and violent crime trends. Pinto’s remarks signaled her willingness to work across those divides, but also her intent to defend the reforms already in place.
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