Speaker Pelosi decries national "attitude of lawlessness" as Dems push for decreased bail for criminals

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Americans are facing an “attitude of lawlessness” as rising crime rates continue to frustrate law enforcement officials across the country, the Washington Times reported. 

Calling the rampant the smash-and-grab crimes targeting retail stores in San Francisco “absolutely outrageous,” the San Francisco Democratic lawmaker said, “Obviously, it cannot continue. But the fact [is] that there is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I don’t know where … and we cannot have that lawlessness become the norm.”

“It must be stopped, and it’s not just San Francisco,” Pelosi emphasized. “It’s in our entire country.”

Last month, a group of approximately 80 people raided a San Francisco-area Nordstrom department store, driving off in two dozen cars with upwards of $200,000 in stolen goods.

But the Democratic “good cop, bad cop” act is sending mixed messages to both criminals and citizens alike concerned with preserving the rule of law in their cities. 

Earlier this month, 14 individuals were arrested in Los Angeles after stealing more than $330,000 worth of goods in alleged smash-and-grab style crimes targeting high-end stores. Shortly after their arrests, however, all 14 suspects were released – some without having to post bail – thanks to a zero-bail policy that was implemented last year for crimes including burglary.

Last month, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the New York City district attorneys “requesting information on excessive bail in the NYC court system.” 

In the letter – whose authors include Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – the Democratic lawmakers suggested that “excessive bail” results in increased rates of incarceration and ultimately keeps prisoners in jail longer than necessary. 

"We have grave concerns that excessive bail amounts are leading to unnecessary pretrial detention and contributing to a humanitarian crisis in New York City’s jail system, particularly on Rikers Island," the letter stated.  

Their letter further warned that "if these conditions are not addressed, federal intervention may be necessary to protect detainees from additional harm."

"High bail amounts lead to a two-tiered system of justice, with those who can afford bail being able to escape the inhumane conditions at pretrial detention facilities such as Rikers Island while those who cannot afford bail are forced to remain," the letter stated.