Top Biden adviser blames guns for crime surge and insists Republicans defunded police | Washington Examiner

When pressed about whether the crime surge could be caused by rampant law enforcement retirements, declines in prosecutions, or “defund the police” policies that followed the death of George Floyd, Richmond put the blame on the GOP for failing to support Biden s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which he said included funds for police departments.

And let’s talk about who defunded the police, he said. When we were in Congress last year trying to pass a rescue plan I m sorry, not the rescue plan but an emergency relief plan for cities that were cash-strapped and laying off police and firefighters, it was the Republicans who objected to it. And in fact, they didn’t get funding until the American Rescue Plan, which our plan allowed state and local governments to replenish their police departments and do the other things that are needed.

So, look, Republicans are very good at staying on talking points of who says defund the police, but the truth is, they defunded the police, we funded crime intervention and a whole bunch of other things, Richmond added. So I think that this is a very smart, comprehensive approach to dealing with violence in our communities.

via www.washingtonexaminer.com

A bit disingenuous, I’d say.