House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is not speaking for the Democratic Party amid her push to use the “defund the police” slogan.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked Pelosi how Democrats should address rising crime.
She responded, “With all due respect in the world for Cori Bush, that’s not the position of the Democratic party.”
Pelosi continued, “Community safety, protect and defend in every way, is our oath of office.”
The House speaker mentioned a quote from Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), saying, “Defund the police is dead.”
She explained, “That causes a concern with a few in our caucus but public safety is our responsibility and I support what Karen Bass is doing and Mayor Adams of New York.”
Watch her comments below:
.@SpeakerPelosi says “defund the police” is “not the position of the Democratic Party" as lawmakers remains split over how to address crime.
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 13, 2022
“Community safety, to protect and defend in every way, is our oath of office.” https://t.co/sGomlyuTgq pic.twitter.com/ju7ebDFLnL
Last week, Bush renewed her push for defunding the police, as IJR reported.
“I always tell [fellow Democrats], ‘If you all had fixed this before I got here, I wouldn’t have to say these things,'” Bush told Axios.
She added, “Defund the police’ is not the problem.”
Bush argued, “We dangled the carrot in front of people’s faces and said we can get it done and that Democrats deliver, when we haven’t totally delivered.”
The Democrat suggested if Republicans take the majority, “It’s just done as far as trying to get the legislation across.”
When asked if members of her party have pressured her to change her rhetoric, she replied, “Oh, absolutely.”
Last month, The New York Times reported Adams unveiled a plan to add more police officers to the streets of the city to remove guns.
“We will not surrender our city to the violent few,” Adams said.
He added, “I want to be clear: This is not just a plan for the future — it is a plan for right now.”
Calling gun violence a “public health crisis,” Adams continued, “There is no time to wait.”