Culver City Crime Rates Decline Despite AG Bondi's Claims

Bondi's comments about crime in Culver City during a House Judiciary Committee hearing were quickly debunked by local officials and crime statistics.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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During a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made claims about high crime rates in Culver City, California. However, official crime data shows that violent crime in Culver City actually declined by 3.9% in 2024, with the overall crime rate dropping 9.7% that year and an additional 6.1% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Why it matters

Bondi's comments about Culver City crime appear to be an attempt to deflect attention from the core issues being discussed at the hearing, which focused on the DOJ's handling of the Epstein investigation and related data redaction issues. Her unusual strategy of criticizing a local crime statistic during a broader congressional hearing has drawn bipartisan criticism and calls for her resignation.

The details

During the heated exchange, Bondi stated that Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, whose district includes Culver City, 'is not talking about any crime in her district... nothing about helping crime in her district. She's not even worth getting into the details.' However, data from the Culver City Police Department and the California Department of Justice shows that violent crime in the city actually declined in 2024, with murders dropping to zero and cases of aggravated assault, kidnapping, and robbery also falling. The only violent crime that saw an increase was simple assault, rising 8.1%.

  • Crime in Culver City declined 9.7% in 2024.
  • In the third quarter of 2025, crime was down an additional 6.1% compared to the same period in 2024.

The players

Pam Bondi

The U.S. Attorney General who made the claims about high crime rates in Culver City during the House Judiciary Committee hearing.

Sydney Kamlager-Dove

A California Representative whose district includes Culver City and who was pressing Bondi on deleted Department of Justice data during the hearing.

Freddy Puza

The Mayor of Culver City who responded to Bondi's comments on Instagram, noting the declining crime rate in the city.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Bondi's comments about Culver City crime appear to be a deflection tactic in response to scrutiny over the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein investigation and related data redaction issues. Her unusual strategy of criticizing a local crime statistic during a broader congressional hearing has drawn bipartisan criticism and calls for her resignation, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in government.