Quick Hit:

Newly released DOJ data reveals an increase in violent crime under the Biden-Harris administration, challenging ABC News moderator David Muir’s correction of former President Donald Trump during last week’s debate. Trump had asserted that violent crime was rising, a claim now supported by the Department of Justice’s latest crime statistics.

Key Details:

• The DOJ's National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) shows violent crime has increased from 5.6 per 1,000 in 2020 to 8.7 per 1,000 in 2023.

• The survey, which includes self-reported crimes that may not have been reported to police, highlighted rises in rape, robbery, and aggravated assault since 2020.

• During Tuesday’s debate, Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration's handling of crime, a point contested by ABC's David Muir, who claimed crime had decreased using a report that covers only reported crimes and includes data from just 72% of law enforcement agencies.

Diving Deeper:

Violent crime has surged during the Biden-Harris administration, according to new Department of Justice data released on Friday. The National Crime Victimization Survey includes self-reported violent crimes such as rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The NCVS showed that total violent crime incidents increased from 5.6 per 1,000 people in 2020 to 8.7 per 1,000 in 2023. The report also noted that rape rates rose from 1.2 to 1.7 per 1,000 people during the same period, while robbery and aggravated assault rates saw significant jumps as well.

This DOJ data came just days after the second presidential debate, during which Donald Trump accused the Biden-Harris administration of presiding over skyrocketing crime rates. Trump’s assertion was challenged by ABC News moderator David Muir, who referenced FBI statistics that indicated a decrease in violent crime during the first quarter of 2023. However, the FBI’s quarterly report covers only reported crimes and includes data from just 72% of law enforcement agencies.

The discrepancy between the FBI and DOJ data reflects a broader debate over how crime is tracked and reported. John Lott, former senior advisor at the Department of Justice, explained to the New York Post that the NCVS captures crimes that are often unreported to police, accounting for a more complete picture of overall crime. According to Lott, roughly 40% of violent crimes and 30% of property crimes are never reported to law enforcement.

Following the DOJ's report, Trump took a victory lap, referencing the data during a press conference in southern California. “You remember where David Muir tried to correct me?” Trump asked reporters. “I guess the DOJ watched the debate and saw what a foolish mistake Muir made.” Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, called for Muir to issue a public apology to the former president for his debate-night fact check.

The data also showed an increase in other types of crime. Stranger violence rose from 8.1 per 1,000 in 2019 to 11.4 per 1,000 in 2023, while violent crimes involving a weapon jumped from 4.0 to 5.3 per 1,000. Motor vehicle theft also saw a significant rise, going from 3.9 per 1,000 in 2019 to 6.1 per 1,000 in 2023.

ABC News has not yet responded to the calls for an apology or clarification on Muir’s comments during the debate.