U.S. Rep. Gallagher: Slams Psaki’s comments on Democrats’ soft on crime policies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today criticized White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s recent comments criticizing coverage of Democrats’ soft on crime policies, saying, “what does that even mean?”

In a video, Gallagher said, “Are you kidding me? It means letting violent criminals back out onto the street with ridiculously low cash bail, which resulted in a Christmas parade tragedy in Waukesha, WI. It means decriminalizing theft, which has forced small businesses in San Francisco to helplessly close their doors or learn to deal with a new normal in which customers can come in and essentially take up $950 of whatever they want. It means advocating to defund police departments, which both emboldens criminals and endangers cops, 346 of whom were shot just last year. This isn’t some fictitious narrative being spun by the media. Soft on crime policies have made neighborhoods across the country less safe, including right here in Wisconsin.”

Watch the congressman’s video HERE or read the full transcript below:

“In an interview earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki essentially laughed off Fox News’ coverage of Democrats’ soft on crime policies, and said, “what does that even mean?”

“Are you kidding me? Anyone who has been paying attention the last year knows what soft on crime policies mean.

“It means letting violent criminals back out onto the street with ridiculously low cash bail, which resulted in a Christmas parade tragedy in Waukesha, WI.

“It means decriminalizing theft, which has forced small businesses in San Francisco to helplessly close their doors or learn to deal with a new normal in which customers can come in and essentially take up $950 of whatever they want.

“It means advocating to defund police departments, which both emboldens criminals and endangers cops, 346 of whom were shot last year.

“This isn’t some fictitious narrative being spun by the media. Soft on crime policies have made neighborhoods across the country less safe, including right here in Wisconsin.

“For example, six people were shot dead in Milwaukee the other weekend. Just last Thursday, a Milwaukee police officer was shot, hours after the three police officers were shot in Houston.

“The rapid increases in violent crime and homicide isn’t just happening in the typical big cities like Chicago, it is happening right here in Madison and Milwaukee.

“Milwaukee reported 4,507 motor vehicle thefts in 2020, but in 2021 they reported 10,480, a 133% increase over 2020. That’s more than double the theft in one year.

“And we all remember the tragedy that played out at the Waukesha Christmas Parade, which cost lives.

“This isn’t some far off concern. This isn’t something to shrug off. Police officers are dead, American citizens are dead, and Americans no longer feel safe because of crazy defund the police rhetoric and soft on crime policies.

“This isn’t something to laugh off. This is something to confront head on and solve by supporting law enforcement, giving them the resources they need, and showing the next generation that this is an honorable profession — not something to demonize whenever you get the chance.”