PolitiFact: “National Republican Group Falsely Claims Spanberger Backs Defunding Police”

From Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s campaign:

PolitiFact VA Reminds Virginians that Spanberger Focuses on Funding the Police

PolitiFact: “National Republican Group Falsely Claims Spanberger Backs Defunding Police”

Spanberger Leads the Charge as the Only Pro-Law Enforcement Candidate in VA-07

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — After a disingenuous press release sent from the NRCC lied about Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s steadfast support for law enforcement, PolitiFact fact-checked the claim.

While Congresswoman Spanberger’s record on funding Virginia’s law enforcement departments speaks for itself, VPM/PolitiFact went the extra mile, and made its ruling:

… the National Republican Campaign Committee is accusing Democratic congressional candidates this year of seeking to defund police departments.

…

We fact checked the NRCC’s claim that Spanberger backs defunding police and found it contrived. We emailed the NRCC, and a spokesperson declined to answer our questions.

…

The NRCC ignores that Spanberger has been a leading Democratic critic of the defund movement and has supported a number of bills and proposals that would substantially increase federal funding for local police departments. We rate the NRCC’s claim False.

As a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA case officer, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s career has been defined by public service and keeping our country and communities safe. Since being elected to Congress, Spanberger has been committed to increasing funding for local police departments to keep Virginians safe. In both policy and in rhetoric, Spanberger has and always will be in support of those who keep Virginia’s communities safe. The same cannot be said for Spanberger’s extreme GOP opponent, Yesli Vega.

Justin Chermol, Abigail Spanberger for Congress Press Secretary, today released the following statement in response to VPM’s fact-check:

“Abigail Spanberger is a former federal law enforcement officer, a former CIA case officer, and the daughter of a retired law enforcement officer. She has never supported defunding the men and women who keep our communities safe, and she has always worked with both parties to make sure that those who devote their lives to protecting and serving have the resources, training, and support they need to keep Virginians safe.

“Truth be told, while Abigail has been leading and supporting legislation to support law enforcement – their officers, their work, and their retirees – her opponent Yesli Vega is an extremist who, as a member of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors,  repeatedly voted against funding the police in her own community.

“Yesli Vega not only voted against local police funding, she also defended the insurrectionists who beat and bloodied the brave Metropolitan Police Department and Capitol Police officers who fought to protect our Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

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Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is the only pro-order candidate in the race for Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District (VA-07).

Congresswoman Spanberger is working tirelessly in the U.S. House of Representatives to build coalitions and enact commonsense legislation that will keep Virginians safe. That is why Spanberger introduced the bipartisan Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on the Beat Program Reauthorization and Parity Act that would increase officer pay, fund community policing initiatives, and help police departments hire more officers.

The COPS Act received the endorsement from multiple local law enforcement leaders like Culpeper Police Department Chief Chris Jenkins, and sheriff’s offices in Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Goochland County, and Louisa County.

Earlier this year, Spanberger was ranked the most bipartisan Member of Congress from Virginia and one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress overall.