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Pants on Fire

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All Fact-checks for Crime

stated on May 30, 2021 in a Twitter post

“Police budgets are at their highest they've ever been, there hasn’t actually been any defunding the police.”

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barely-true

stated on May 19, 2021 in a TikTok video

“There is a place in the U.S. where murder is legal.”

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false

stated on May 26, 2021 in a Facebook post

Police defunding is to blame for “skyrocketing murder rates” in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Portland, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

true

barely-true

stated on May 24, 2021 in a Facebook post

The mother of a missing boy in Nebraska confessed to killing him.

true

false

stated on May 16, 2021 in a Facebook post

“Video shows U.S. Capitol Police gave protesters OK to enter.”

true

pants-fire

stated on May 12, 2021 in a House hearing

“Watching the TV footage of those who entered the Capitol. … If you didn't know the TV footage was from Jan. 6, you would actually think it was a normal tourist visit.”

true

pants-fire

stated on April 25, 2021 in a Facebook post

Caitlyn Jenner “literally killed someone 6 years ago in the streets and was released by a District Attorney.”

true

barely-true

stated on May 4, 2021 in a campaign press conference

California Gov. Gavin Newsom “just let 76,000 inmates out of jail."

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false

stated on April 19, 2021 in a speech

“If you look at some of these places that (reduced police funding), they’ve already seen crime go up."

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barely-true

stated on April 26, 2021 in a Facebook post

Says the Memphis Police Department “will no longer respond” to crimes including larceny, breaking and entering, and motor vehicle theft.

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false

stated on April 19, 2021 in a Facebook post

By clicking on a link from a fake USPS text message, “you are sending your precise location to sex traffickers in your local area” so they can kidnap you.

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stated on April 15, 2021 in a Facebook post

Police say there is a suspected serial killer in Baton Rouge.

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false

stated on April 11, 2021 in a Facebook post

A serial killer is targeting women in Hot Springs, Ark.

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stated on April 11, 2021 in a Facebook post

“George Floyd’s younger brother, Dejywan Floyd, has been arrested in North Carolina for a ‘road rage’ shooting of a white couple, killing the mother of six sitting in the passenger seat.”

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stated on April 1, 2021 in a TV segment

“The Biden administration is engaging in human trafficking because they are enabling this to happen” at the southern border.

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stated on March 23, 2021 in a TV segment

"In 2004, George W. Bush lifted the ban on those (AR-15 type) rifles, and since then, the number of massacres has increased 183%. During the ban, there were 12 incidents. Since he lifted the ban, there were 34 incidents."

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half-true

stated on March 18, 2021 in Facebook posts

The “president of Drag Queen Story Hour” was “arrested, charged with child pornography.”

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false

stated on March 20, 2021 in a speech

“There was no violence on the Senate side, in terms of the chamber.”

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barely-true

stated on March 20, 2021 in a TV segment

The southern U.S. border “is now open to anyone from anywhere in the world who wishes to enter our country.”

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stated on March 16, 2021 in in a tweet

“Black Lives Matter of Atlanta Charged with Wire Fraud, Money Laundering and Allegedly Using almost 500k in Donations For Personal Use.”

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Why the new false flag conspiracy theory that FBI orchestrated Capitol attack is wrong

Why the new false flag conspiracy theory that FBI orchestrated Capitol attack is wrong

By Samantha Putterman • June 18, 2021

Update: Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes

Update: Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes

By Jon Greenberg • April 20, 2021

What we know about the traffic stop that left Daunte Wright dead

What we know about the traffic stop that left Daunte Wright dead

By Ciara O'Rourke • April 15, 2021

Ask PolitiFact: Is the Biden administration pushing for no-knock raids to seize guns?

Ask PolitiFact: Is the Biden administration pushing for no-knock raids to seize guns?

By Noah Y. Kim • April 9, 2021

Did George Floyd say he ‘ate too many drugs,’ as Derek Chauvin's defense claimed?

Did George Floyd say he ‘ate too many drugs,’ as Derek Chauvin's defense claimed?

By Bill McCarthy • April 8, 2021

Hate crimes against Asian Americans: What the numbers show, and don’t

Hate crimes against Asian Americans: What the numbers show, and don’t

By Amy Sherman • March 19, 2021

Ask PolitiFact: Where was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during the Capitol riot?

Ask PolitiFact: Where was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during the Capitol riot?

By Bill McCarthy • February 4, 2021

Was the storming of the US Capitol a coup? An academic group now says yes

Was the storming of the US Capitol a coup? An academic group now says yes

By Louis Jacobson • February 1, 2021

Checking Evers' promises on Act 10, prisons, commissions

Checking Evers' promises on Act 10, prisons, commissions

By Eric Litke • January 22, 2021

FBI investigation of Capitol riot focuses on far-right groups

FBI investigation of Capitol riot focuses on far-right groups

By Daniel Funke • January 20, 2021

After Calling U.S. Capitol Insurrection ‘First Shots Against Tyranny,’ Calif. Lawmaker Backtracks

After Calling U.S. Capitol Insurrection ‘First Shots Against Tyranny,’ Calif. Lawmaker Backtracks

By Chris Nichols • January 12, 2021

There’s no proof antifa stormed the Capitol. The rumor spread quickly anyway

There’s no proof antifa stormed the Capitol. The rumor spread quickly anyway

By Daniel Funke • January 7, 2021

Ask PolitiFact: Did Capitol Police let mob of Trump supporters in?

Ask PolitiFact: Did Capitol Police let mob of Trump supporters in?

By Samantha Putterman • January 7, 2021

A day of crisis at the US Capitol, fact-checked

A day of crisis at the US Capitol, fact-checked

By PolitiFact Staff • January 6, 2021

In context: 'Operation Undaunted' and crime in Austin

In context: 'Operation Undaunted' and crime in Austin

By Brandon Mulder • January 4, 2021

Pants on Fire in Review 2020 -- Wisconsin

Pants on Fire in Review 2020 -- Wisconsin

By Haley BeMiller • December 28, 2020

Top 10 fact checks of 2020 -- Wisconsin

Top 10 fact checks of 2020 -- Wisconsin

By Eric Litke • December 24, 2020

Allegations of USPS election fraud in Michigan don’t hold up

Allegations of USPS election fraud in Michigan don’t hold up

By Bill McCarthy • November 5, 2020

In context: Donald Trump’s ‘stand back and stand by’ debate comments on white supremacists

In context: Donald Trump’s ‘stand back and stand by’ debate comments on white supremacists

By Bill McCarthy • September 30, 2020

Here’s what Tucker Carlson got wrong about the Kenosha shootings

Here’s what Tucker Carlson got wrong about the Kenosha shootings

By Eric Litke • September 23, 2020

Latest promises about Crime

Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act

Direct federal resources to help prevent violence against transgender women

Have mandatory minimum sentences for criminals caught trying to re-enter the United States illegally

Fully fund the COPS program

Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act

Initiate a grant and training program for law enforcement to deter cyber crime

Push for Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation

Create new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud

Restore funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program