'Let Me Finish Your Question': Jean-Pierre on Biden Overriding D.C.'s Crime Law and 'D.C. Should Be a 51 State' (March 6, 2023)

President Joe Biden had decided to sign a Republican resolution killing Washington, D.C.’s new criminal code, and the White House was still explaining why. “So, also, when we were discussing this last week, you cited Mayor Bowser’s opposition to the crime proposal. But she also says that the override is an indignity and that Congress has meddled in its affairs. Why didn’t the President or the White House give her a heads up that the President wanted to sign this override legislation?” a reporter asked Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on March 6, 2023 [1].

“She also said that she understands why the President made this decision. But what —” Jean-Pierre began. “So, the question is —” the reporter said [1].

“No, I — wait. Let me — let me — let me get into it,” Jean-Pierre said. “I — I haven’t even asked the question,” the reporter said. “But you just asked a question. Let me finish your question — the first question what you asked,” Jean-Pierre answered, according to the official White House transcript [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the March 6, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript and the Clerk of the House [1][2][3][4].

”That Doesn’t Exactly Address the Question”

Jean-Pierre said the White House had talked to the mayor’s office. “Our team, the off- — the intergovernmental affairs team is in constant communication with her team and was last week,” she said [1].

“Okay. So the question is —” the reporter tried again. After Jean-Pierre said “Yep,” the reporter went on: ”— why didn’t the White House or the President give Mayor Bowser a heads up that —” “I just told you that they’re in constant communication with the team, including last week,” Jean-Pierre said. “I’m just not — I’m just not going to get into specifics.” [1]

“Okay. That doesn’t exactly address the question, but I understand,” the reporter said [1].

She said Biden was protecting the city. “He was — he wanted to make sure that he delivered for the 700,000 residents of D.C. in a way that was — in a way that was protecting the residents here,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”We Were Given a Heads Up This Morning”

The city tried to pull the bill back, and that time the White House did get warning. “The D.C. Council chair said today that he thought he had the power to rescind the sending of a bill to the Senate for its review. Was there any communication between the White House and Council Chairman Mendelson’s office prior to his press conference today?” a reporter asked [1].

“So, our team was made aware earlier this morning,” Jean-Pierre said. “But, yes, we were given — we were given a heads up this morning.” [1]

“The Senate intends to move forward with its vote on the resolution. The President still intends to sign it. Is that right?” the reporter asked. “If — look, again, we’ve made ourselves very clear. If the — if the bill comes to the President’s desk, he will sign it,” she said [1].

”D.C. Should Be a 51 State”

Another reporter asked how Biden could still back statehood for a council whose bill he called unacceptable. “You specifically talked about how the bill would reduce penalties for carjacking and you even mentioned sexual assault. So the question for you is why the President would still support D.C. statehood,” the reporter said [1].

“Because he believes — and he has for some time now — that D.C. should be a 51 state. They should have a statehood,” Jean-Pierre answered [1].

Later, a reporter asked her to explain an earlier line. “You said D.C. — ‘It’s not a state, it’s not a city.’ What did you mean by that?” “Meaning that — what I’m trying to say is we — it’s not a — it’s not a statehood. It doesn’t have statehood. Right?” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”My Homework Is Not on Par Today”

A reporter followed up on the presidential limousine. “And you said last week you’d check on the license plate on the Beast, whether it says ‘Taxation Without Representation.’” Jean-Pierre laughed. “I — oh, my gosh,” she said. “I — my — I would — I would — my homework is not on par today. (Laughs.)” [1]

On a second D.C. resolution, about letting non-citizens vote in local elections, she said: “the President does not support allowing non-citizens to vote in federal elections.” As for “that particular bill, I don’t have any updates from here to share.” [1]

By the Numbers

250-173: the House vote to overturn D.C.’s Revised Criminal Code Act [2].
31: House Democrats who voted with all 219 Republicans [2].
260-162: the House vote against D.C.’s non-citizen voting law [3].
700,000: D.C. residents, per Jean-Pierre [1].

What Happened Next

Biden signed it. “On Monday, March 20, 2023, the President signed into law: H.J.Res. 26, which nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia,” the White House announced [4].

The House had passed it on Feb. 9, 2023, under the title “Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act,” with 31 Democrats joining Republicans [2].

For Jean-Pierre on Russian billionaires tied to Hunter Biden at the same briefing, see HYGO News’ page on March 6, 2023.