ANNAPOLIS, MD— The Maryland Freedom Caucus issued a statement Tuesday calling on Gov. Wes Moore to work with President Donald Trump, after Trump pledged to offer National Guard assistance to Baltimore to combat crime.
The press release from the caucus, a group of conservative state lawmakers, praised Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and cited statistics that they claim show a significant reduction in crime in the nation’s capital since the deployment.
“If President Trump is willing to step in and help protect our nation’s capital, then Governor Wes Moore should be willing to work across the aisle to protect the citizens of Maryland,” the statement said.
The caucus highlighted specific crime reductions in Washington, D.C., including a 12-day period without a homicide, and drops in violent crime, burglaries, and car thefts. These figures have been cited by the Trump administration as evidence of the National Guard’s success in the city.
The Maryland Freedom Caucus also criticized Governor Moore, accusing him of prioritizing political ambitions over public safety. The statement claimed that Moore “has spent the summer auditioning for president with wealthy and celebrity donors and influencers,” while the caucus has “stood resolutely for law and order.”
The press release listed several bills the caucus has sponsored this year, including measures to keep murderers in prison for their full sentences, mandate cooperation with ICE detainers for violent criminals, and protect property owners from criminal squatters.
The statement concluded with a call for elected officials to put “public safety before politics.”
