FBI Says It Arrested More Than 47,000 Violent Criminals and Gang Members in 21 Months, a 67% Rise Over Biden's Last 21; Patel Cites a 30% Drop in Murder Rate

The FBI released a scorecard Wednesday comparing the first 21 months of the Trump administration with the last 21 months of the Biden administration, Fox News reports.

The headline number. The bureau says it arrested more than 47,000 violent criminals and gang members in the period, a 67% increase over the prior 21 months.

The rest of the list. Arrests of child sex predators and human traffickers rose 13% to just over 6,000, the agency says. Director Kash Patel also cited a 30% drop in the national murder rate, a 114% increase in arrests of violent crime suspects, and more than 4,600 kilograms of seized fentanyl, which the FBI says could kill over 350 million Americans. Law enforcement captured 10 of the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted fugitives, which the bureau says is 2.5 times the number over the previous four years, plus six fugitives from a new "Most Wanted Fraudsters" list in its first four months.

Patel's words. "This FBI has delivered the largest reduction in violent crime in United States history," Patel said, working with the Justice Department and local partners. He said that comes from "a President who backs the blue, an Attorney General who relentlessly prosecutes criminals, and good cops all over the country getting the job done." He added that the bureau faced "one of the highest threat environments in American history" when the term began.

Context. Fox notes Republicans sharply criticized the FBI under Biden over allegations of political bias and overreach. Fox links the new figures to an earlier FBI report of the largest drop in violent crime and murder since 1937.

Note for readers: every figure here comes from the FBI's own release, provided to Fox, and we have not checked it independently. The release lists two separate arrest figures, 67% and 114%, and Fox does not explain how they differ.