Mike Segar
Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent letters on Friday to nine different jurisdictions warning that the Department of Justice would withhold law enforcement grant money unless the jurisdictions in question would comply with the Trump administration's attempts to crack down on sanctuary cities. The statement specifically targeted New York City as well saying: "New York City continues to see gang murder after gang murder, the predictable consequence of the city's 'soft on crime' stance." New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill immediately bashed the statement. "If you believe this statement is accurate, come to New York City, look our police officers in the eye and tell them you believe they are soft on crime," de Blasio said. "I'd like to think of myself as a pretty calm and measured person...but when I read that statement by DOJ this afternoon, my blood began to boil," O'Neill said. "To say we're soft on crime is absolutely ludicrous."