Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon says a homeless man attempted to steal her phone Tuesday afternoon while she was walking near the Department of Justice.
Dhillon had just finished an appointment and was returning to the DOJ when the man — described as “malodorous” and “not in his right mind” — tried to swipe her phone. She dodged the attempt.
“It’ll be a while till things feel safe in this city, so everyone stay alert!” Dhillon warned in a post on X.
Incident Highlights Need for Trump’s Federalization of DC Police
The incident happened just one day after President Donald Trump invoked Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.
Trump also authorized the Secretary of Defense to deploy National Guard troops to restore order in the nation’s capital.
Under Section 740, the president can take control of the Metropolitan Police during “special conditions of an emergency nature,” but must notify Congress and the D.C. mayor if control is to last more than 48 hours.
Trump: “We Will Bring in the Military if Needed”
Trump signed two executive actions Monday — one invoking Section 740, and another directing the Defense Department to use National Guard troops to clean up D.C.
He also authorized state governors to use their Guard units at home if necessary.
The decision followed a string of violent crimes, including the recent severe beating of Department of Government Efficiency worker Edward Coristine, known as “Big Balls,” by a group of attackers.
