AG Jeanine Pirro Drops Hammer on DC Crime—Massive Arrests Announced After Call with President Trump
Washington, D.C. – Acting swiftly and decisively after a call with President Donald J. Trump, newly appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro wasted no time delivering on her promise to restore law and order to the nation’s capital.
Pirro, a fierce defender of justice and former judge, was sworn in just days ago, and her office has already launched a no-nonsense crackdown that’s making waves across the city. In her first major press briefing, Pirro announced a series of impactful arrests and convictions in cases ranging from murder to terrorism-related threats—confirming that the days of leniency and chaos in the District are over.
Crime Crackdown Underway
Among the top developments under Pirro’s watch:
- A mother was convicted of felony murder in the tragic death of her 16-month-old daughter.
- A suspect was arrested in connection with a homicide inside a D.C. jail.
- A man was found guilty of kidnapping and strangulation.
- Another individual was arrested for the cold-blooded murder of a woman, whose body was dumped in a dumpster.
- A convicted felon received nearly six years in federal prison for unlawful firearm possession.
Pirro’s office also secured a high-profile conviction in a disturbing case involving livestreamed threats of domestic terrorism.
Taylor Taranto Convicted in Explosive Hoax Case
Taylor Taranto, a 39-year-old resident of Pasco, Washington, was convicted of a slew of federal offenses including:
- Carrying two unlicensed firearms
- Unlawful possession of ammunition
- Spreading false information and hoaxes
The conviction was jointly announced by U.S. Attorney Pirro and FBI Assistant Director Steven J. Jensen, head of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Crimes Division. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols presided over the case and found Taranto guilty on all counts, with sentencing to follow.
Taranto’s conviction stems from a chilling incident on June 28, 2023, when he livestreamed himself threatening to detonate a car bomb at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He claimed to be “working on a detonator” and targeted a neutron generator at the facility. After crossing into Virginia, he abandoned his van in traffic and fled on foot in an apparent stunt for online viewers.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force moved quickly to neutralize the threat. A later video showing Taranto driving through D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood helped agents track and arrest him. Authorities later confirmed the bomb threat was a hoax—but two firearms, multiple magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found in his vehicle.
Drive-By Shooters Sentenced
Pirro’s office didn’t stop there. In a bold follow-up announcement, her team disclosed the sentencing of two men responsible for a brazen daylight drive-by near a D.C. elementary school in April 2024.
- Rasheed Mullins, 27, received a 90-month federal prison sentence
- Josiah Warfield, 24, was sentenced to 100 months
- Both will serve an additional five years of supervised release
The pair had pleaded guilty earlier this year to assault with intent to kill while armed. The announcement was made just hours after Pirro officially took office—demonstrating her readiness to act decisively and restore order.
President Trump’s Tough-on-Crime Agenda in Action
Pirro’s appointment is part of a broader push by President Donald J. Trump, now in his second term, to reclaim public safety in Washington, D.C. Speaking from the Department of Justice, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment:
“We’re not going to have crime, and we’re not going to stand for crime.”
His words are already translating into results. Under Pirro’s brief leadership, the city is seeing signs of a turnaround. Metropolitan Police Department data shows:
- Robberies down 24%
- Homicides down 17%
- Assaults with a dangerous weapon down 14%
These early successes suggest that President Trump’s law-and-order vision is taking hold.
Pirro’s interim term lasts 120 days under federal statute. It remains to be seen whether the White House will nominate her to remain in the role permanently. If the momentum she’s building continues, few would question her fitness for the job.