The feds failed Brooklyn

In the wake of shootings doubling and homicides climbing 40% citywide this summer, President Trump’s Justice Department has mounted white steeds and purported to ride to the rescue. This week, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme proclaimed his office would begin aggressively prosecuting gun crimes “to protect our communities from armed repeat offenders and violent gang members.”

We’re never going to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially not when it might help save New Yorkers’ lives, but the feds are being too clever by half.

The rapid-response program DuCharme is touting was announced last year. And federal prosecutors aren’t suddenly rushing to the scene to aid foundering local prosecutors, as Trump would have it as he insists “anarchist jurisdictions” are drowning in lawlessness. In fact, federal prosecutors, along with DEA, DHS and ICE officials, have for many years partnered with the NYPD and Brooklyn DA to investigate and prosecute major narcotics, gun and gang cases.

The irony here is what changed this year, in months before the pandemic ground court proceedings to a halt this spring: Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn were undertaking fewer criminal non-immigration-related prosecutions than they once did. Lots fewer.

In August of 2020, the office tallied just 50 such prosecutions, compared to 110 in August of 2019. The feds are currently on pace to prosecute 61.2% fewer criminal cases this year than it did in 2010, under President Obama.

So, while DuCharme may have been accurate when he said that “New York is not as safe as it could be or once was,” his office shares some responsibility, and some blame.

Far from a federal takeover of flailing locals, this week’s announcement amounted to a declaration that after months of declining gang and gun takedowns, federal prosecutors intend to resume doing their jobs. Can you hear our golf clap?