The Justice Department is investigating whether Washington, D.C., police manipulated data to make crime rates appear lower, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and local officials who have repeatedly cited drops in violent crime to protest the need for a federal takeover of law enforcement.

The criminal probe - being run out of the D.C. federal prosecutor’s office, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro - is expected to examine the actions of multiple police officials, according to three people familiar with the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

“D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety,” President Donald Trump wrote on social media Monday night, confirming the existence of the probe.

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