White House adviser, Rep. Banks trade jabs over blame in crime spikes

A top White House adviser and a GOP congressman, Rep. Jim Banks, sparred during separate appearances on a Sunday news show over which party is responsible for the rise in violent crime across the country.

Banks (R-Ind.) said he agrees with President Biden’s last week freeing up COVID relief funds to local governments so the money can be spent on crime fighting. But he noted that Biden also said in 2002 that having more cops on the beat drives down crime.