Attorney General Pam Bondi Appoints Dea Administrator As 'emergency' D.c. Police Chief

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Pam Bondi further cemented nan Trump administration's takeover of D.C. rule enforcement Thursday by shifting decision-making authority distant from its constabulary main and handing it to nan caput of nan Drug Enforcement Administration.

During an question and reply connected Fox News, Bondi previewed an bid by nan Justice Department naming DEA caput Terry Cole arsenic "emergency constabulary commissioner" of nan Metropolitan Police Department, days aft President Donald Trump directed nan national authorities to return power of nan section constabulary and deployed nan National Guard successful an effort to mitigate crime successful nan nation's capital.

"Effective immediately, Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrence C. Cole shall service arsenic MPD’s Emergency Police Commissioner for nan long of nan emergency declared by nan President. Commissioner Cole shall presume each of nan powers and duties vested successful nan District of Columbia Chief of Police," nan bid from nan lawyer general's agency read.

The bid intends nan existing activity of nan D.C. police, including main Pamela Smith, will person to person support from Cole earlier issuing immoderate further directives for nan department.

Following a gathering pinch Bondi connected Tuesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Smith was serving arsenic "operations lead successful moving pinch nan national authorities and national forces that will beryllium successful nan district."

"We are ensuring that our Chief of Police is nan leader and is moving pinch her counterparts that person been named by nan President, specifically nan head of nan Drug Enforcement Agency and nan Marshals Service, to guarantee that immoderate further officers that we have, and we expect that could scope successful nan hundreds connected immoderate fixed night, will beryllium deployed successful nan measurement that helps america thrust down convulsive crime," Bowser, a Democrat, said Tuesday.

Bowser's agency did not instantly respond to a petition for remark Thursday nighttime connected Bondi's order.

Smith issued an bid earlier Thursday allowing section constabulary conducting postulation stops to notify Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agents astir undocumented immigrants they encounter, a moved praised by Trump arsenic a "great step" amid his effort to "stop crime" successful nan city.

Despite Smith's directive, Bondi during her question and reply connected Fox cited what she framed arsenic "sanctuary policies" successful her determination to supplant nan constabulary main for nan long of Trump's 30-day order.

"They're trying to protect criminal aliens. And what's going to hap if we support this up, criminals are going to fly to DC, and we're not going to fto that happen," Bondi said. "That's why, astatine my directive, we person made Terry Cole now nan commissioner complete nan police."