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Jerry Torres Faults Prosecutors, Police Recruitment for Record Crime in Northern Virginia


Jerry Torres Faults Soros Prosecutors, Police Recruitment for Record Crime in Northern Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2024


Contact: Jerry Torres for U.S. Congress



Fairfax, VA — Jerry Torres, the Republican candidate running to represent Virginia’s 8th congressional district, highlighted the radical surge in violent crime in Northern Virginia on Friday, calling it an “epidemic that threatens to permanently degrade quality of life in Virginia.”


"Our community was once one of the safest in our nation,” Torres said. “Today, after four years of President Biden’s leadership, our residents are living in fear, and we’re grappling with the highest crime levels in our recorded history.”


Fairfax County saw incidents of serious crime — such as attempted murder, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, abductions, armed robberies and carjackings — nearly double from 14,236 cases in 2019 to 26,682 cases in 2023. The increase was even greater in Alexandria and Arlington, where crime more than doubled over the same period.


"These numbers reflect the fear, anxiety, and tangible threats that our residents face on a daily basis," Torres said.



Violent crime in Alexandria, Virginia.
Violent crime in Alexandria rose 33.7% between 2022 and 2023. Source: Alexandria Police Department

The problem is due, in part, to diminishing morale among local law enforcement.


"Our police officers, the backbone of our community, are overworked and underpaid. Their wages haven’t kept pace with inflation, and their working hours have increased — which has led to a drop in recruitment and retention,” Torres said. “We're not just fighting crime. We're fighting a system that no longer supports our first line of defense.”


The problem is also attributable to the region’s three top prosecutors, who each won support from left-wing billionaire George Soros for promising to be soft on crime: Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti; Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano; and Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter. Dehghani-Tafti and Descano both took office in 2019 — aided by more than $1 million in contributions from a Soros-tied PAC — making them singularly responsible for the rise of crime in their jurisdictions.


Torres said he would ask Congress to investigate the prosecutors’ ties to Soros if he wins the Nov. 5 election.


“Porter, Dehghani-Tafti and Descano are pro-criminal and anti-victim," Torres said. "Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax are on track to become some of the most dangerous cities in the civilized world because of them. The House of Representatives have a vested interest in finding out why they’re actively working to hurt the people who live here, and whether it has anything to do with their ties to George Soros.”


About Jerry Torres: Jerry Torres is a military veteran, philanthropist, and successful business leader dedicated to uniting and uplifting the communities of Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax. His campaign focuses on bringing inclusive, effective solutions to the pressing issues facing Virginia's 8th District, leveraging his experience and dedication to help all Virginians thrive.


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