Jordan, Biggs slam FBI for quietly revising 2022 crime data, demand answers from Wray

Two House Republicans excoriated nan FBI Thursday, demanding answers from nan bureau over revelations it softly adjusted immoderate of its crime statistic for 2022 to hide that offenses roseate alternatively than declined.

Last year, nan bureau initially estimated that convulsive crime slipped nationwide by 2.1% successful 2022 compared to 2021. But this past September, nan FBI softly released a revision showing that convulsive crime really roseate 4.5% successful that clip frame.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Subcommittee connected Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) sent a scathing missive to FBI Director Christopher Wray Thursday ripping nan bureau for not being upfront astir nan awesome adjustment.

“The FBI did not publicize its revision of 2022 convulsive crime data, and nan only measurement to spot this alteration is to download nan FBI’s updated crime information and comparison it to nan erstwhile year,” Jordan and Biggs wrote.

That revision went unmentioned successful a September property release boasting astir a 3.0% driblet successful convulsive crime nationally during nan twelvemonth 2023 compared to 2022. Significantly, that expected alteration was predicated connected nan corrected statistic astir convulsive crime spiking successful 2022.

“The first 2022 data, earlier it was corrected, was heralded arsenic ‘historic declines’ successful nan crime rate. Despite having nan existent data, nan FBI ne'er issued a explanation while nan incorrect statistic were utilized to push a mendacious narrative,” nan lawmakers added.

“The FBI’s revision of convulsive crime information confirms what our oversight has shown: nan Biden-Harris crime pandemic continues to escalate and far-left authorities and section policymakers place.”

The stats were utilized during nan 2024 statesmanlike predetermination rhythm arsenic nan ground for galore truth checks, including during nan Sept. 10 statement betwixt President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The bureau’s methodology for search crime has shifted. In 2021, nan FBI moved to a caller strategy of collecting crime information — nan National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), retiring its Summary Reporting System (SRS).

NIBRS reports overmuch much circumstantial crime accusation than SRS, however, reporting rates from rule enforcement person slipped arsenic municipalities seemingly struggled pinch nan transition.

That has prompted galore experts connected crime to accent that nan information is incomplete. By one analysis, nan bureau lacks information from astir 20% of cardinal section agencies and nan reporting complaint dropped beneath 70% successful 2021 for nan first clip successful astatine slightest 2 decades.

The Crime Prevention Research Center first flagged nan FBI’s quiet accommodation successful a communicative that was published by RealClearInvestigations.

Jordan and Biggs are demanding each archiving and connection related to nan “FBI’s process for updating” nan information arsenic good arsenic specifications astir actions taken by nan bureau to update nan nationalist connected nan revision.

The bureau has until Nov. 21 to fork complete that accusation and to put a unit briefing astir nan matter.

In nan letter, Jordan and Biggs said they wanted to cognize nan process nan FBI uses for updating its statistics, specifications astir nan deficiency of reporting from municipalities, really often nan bureau has corrected statistic from anterior years, and steps taken to guarantee nan 2023 information is accurate.

“The FBI’s nonaccomplishment to beryllium transparent astir convulsive crime information continues to erode nan American people’s spot and raises questions astir nan agency’s procedures utilized to way and update nan UCR [Uniform Crime Reporting data],” nan Republican congressmen added.

“Americans person known each on what nan FBI is now yet reporting—crime is continuing to escalate crossed nan state and Americans do not consciousness safe successful their communities.”

The Post contacted nan FBI for comment.

Jordan and Biggs’ missive to Wray came 2 days aft Trump’s triumph successful nan statesmanlike election.

Trump, 78, nominated Wray for a 10-year word arsenic FBI head successful 2017, but congressional Republicans — and Trump himself — person chafed astatine his leadership passim nan Harris-Biden administration.