FBI HQ, Crime & More

Good morning readers — this week we have stories about the new FBI headquarters location controversy, Maryland Republicans' proposed reforms to gun-related and violent crime laws, and the decades-looming debate on Puerto Rico's status.

Capital News Service is off next week for the holiday. We will return to your inbox on Dec. 1.

D.C.

FBI headquarters move to Maryland faces new headwinds from agency and Congress

By Fatema Hosseini and Josephine Jack

The Biden administration’s announcement that the new FBI headquarters would be constructed in Greenbelt, Maryland, was criticized by the agency’s director and Virginia lawmakers alleged corruption in the selection process.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said there was a “potential conflict of interest” in the agency headquarters decision in an internal email to FBI employees, according to multiple reports.

What conflict of interests are officials claiming?

• Wray said he believed a member of the General Services Administration acted in favor of Greenbelt. He also said the GSA didn’t follow its own site selection plan.
• Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, voiced concerns about how two GSA members and an FBI representative chose Virginia, but that decision was overruled by a political appointee.
• Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, referred to “political pressure” as a factor resulting in his district’s Springfield location not being selected.

What did GSA say about why they chose Greenbelt?

• Greenbelt posed the lowest price for taxpayers.
• Greenbelt is easily accessible by numerous transportation networks.

Annapolis

Maryland Republicans pledge to ‘restore balance’ with public safety agenda

By Steph Quinn

Senate and House Republicans vowed Tuesday to redress what House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, R-Allegany, called Maryland’s “soft on crime policies” with a 2024 public safety agenda that would intensify punishment for adults accused of gun-related and violent crimes and reverse reforms to the youth legal system passed by the General Assembly in 2022.

“The crime we’re seeing in our communities is not anecdotal, nor media manufactured,” said Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hershey, R-Kent, Queen Anne’s, Cecil and Caroline. “It is real. The violence is real. And we are pleading with our Democrat colleagues to join us in making it their priority as well.”

House and Senate Democratic leaders could not be reached to comment on the likelihood that the proposals in the package will clear Democratic majorities in both chambers.

What would the proposed legislation do?

• Make firearm theft a felony
• Increase prison time and maximum fines for crimes committed with illegal firearms
• Eliminate reduced prison time for good behavior for those convicted of first- and second-degree murder?
• Allow law enforcement to search vehicles when smelling cannabis
• Limit eligibility for bail or reduced sentences for those with violent crime charges or convictions

D.C.

Lawmakers try again to set a vote on Puerto Rico’s status

By Ryan Mercado

A coalition of senators, House members and prominent Puerto Rican politicians is pressing Congress to pass legislation that would set a vote on the future of the island territory.

The Puerto Rico Status Act authorizes the island territory of over 3 million residents to hold a federally-binding referendum to choose among three options: statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the United States.?

What are Maryland lawmakers saying?

• “For far too long, the people of Puerto Rico have been deprived of the self-determination that they and all people deserve. We owe it to Puerto Ricans to bring an end to their island’s 124-year-old status as a U.S. territory and to grant them control over their island’s political future,” Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, told Capital News Service. Hoyer is one of three legislators who introduced the bill.
• “The United States is grounded in the principle that every citizen has the right to self-determination and representation in government. While we are always working to reach this ideal, one way we continue to fall short is in denying the people of Puerto Rico these core American rights,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, told CNS. Van Hollen is one of 22 senators supporting the bill.

App

Did you know CNS has a new app?

We hope you'll download it from the App Store or Google Play today!

More from CNS

• Election takeaway: abortion remains a potent issue for voters
• School principals prepare for the Blueprint For Maryland’s Future
• As flood plans come to fruition, climate experts say they’ll quickly be inadequate
• ‘No more deliberation, there’s no more questioning:’ Maryland leaders defend FBI relocation

Thanks for reading to the end. What else do you want to know about? Chat with us on social media or send an email to [email protected].