Trump administration to seek federal charges against people snared in DC crackdown, sources say [View all]

Source: Reuters

August 19, 2025 2:38 PM EDT Updated 4 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration this week ordered federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., to be more aggressive in pursuing criminal cases against people arrested as part of a crackdown in the nation's capital, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The move marks an escalation of Trump's push against what he has described as a wave of crime and homelessness in Washington, in which the Republican president has already called up hundreds of National Guard troops and temporarily taken over the Democratic-led city's police department.

The head of the criminal division of the Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney's office, Jonathan Hornok, on Monday told prosecutors to charge as many federal cases as possible against people arrested in the sweeps, a move that could both strain the court system and raise the stakes for criminal defendants because convictions for federal crimes can carry weighty sentences, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal department matters.

While many of the U.S. federal prosecutors in that office focus on higher-level offenses such as terrorism and fraud, the Washington office plays a dual role in prosecuting both federal and local crimes.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-administration-seek-federal-charges-against-people-snared-dc-crackdown-2025-08-19/