Why Biden's about-face over a D.C. crime bill has infuriated Democrats

Critics say the decision is at odds with the ideologies of his party, as well as his supposed stance on D.C. statehood

Joe Biden.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Gettyimages)

On Thursday, President Biden announced he would support a GOP-led effort to overturn a recently-passed criminal code reform bill for Washington, D.C., writing that while he supports "D.C. statehood and home rule" he doesn't support "some of the changes" the city council passed over mayor Muriel Bowser's objections.

"If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did," he promised, "I'll sign it."

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Rafi Schwartz, The Week US

Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.