Republican doesn’t wear seatbelt in DC ‘because of carjacking’ despite data showing decline

<p>Senator echoes Trump’s claims about crime in Washington DC, disputing statistics showing a drop in car thefts and other violations</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/aug/14/donald-trump-washington-dc-control-extend-time-us-politics-latest-updates-news">US politics live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/republicans">Republican</a> senator said that he doesn’t wear a seatbelt when he’s driving in Washington DC so he can act more swiftly if he gets carjacked, adding further fuel to repeated rhetoric by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration</a> that crime is on the rise in the US – despite statistics indicating otherwise.</p><p>Markwayne Mullin <a href="https://www.instagram.com/purpleroom_politics/reel/DNUS0cJxcIX/sen-markwayne-mullin-r-ok-said-he-does-not-wear-a-seatbelt-while-driving-in-wash/">told</a> Fox News on Wednesday that he avoids buckling up, violating local traffic ordinances, so he can “exit in a hurry”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/14/republican-no-seatbelt-carjacking-washington-dc">Continue reading...</a>