Minnesota State Wire

Jason Lewis, a former U.S. Representative for Minnesota, has expressed his views on crime prevention, emphasizing the need for state and local leaders to reject the influence of figures like George Soros and organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He made these remarks on the social media platform X.

"Perfect timing for a podcast follow-up to last week's edition of Jason's Newsletter on the mayhem in the streets (and courts," said Lewis. "We have the tools to stop crime if our state and local public officials would stop listening to George Soros and the ACLU."

Lewis, who represented Minnesota’s 2nd District from 2017 to 2019, said that "public order is not a privilege" and criticized progressive criminal justice reforms. According to OnTheIssues.org, he believes these reforms undermine safety and has supported vocational programs for at-risk youth. Additionally, he co-sponsored the SAFE Justice Act while opposing broader reform agendas.

Minnesota experienced a rise in its violent crime rate from 222 to 311 incidents per 100,000 residents between 2019 and 2021. This increase of 42% was primarily driven by a 63% surge in aggravated assaults. MN Compass reports that these statistics reflect a significant spike in violent crime during the mid-pandemic period.

In contrast, Minneapolis saw a decrease in motor vehicle thefts by 15% and carjackings by 9% in 2024. St. Paul also reported similar declines in auto-related crimes. The Star Tribune suggests that these reductions indicate modest improvements in public safety within key crime categories.

Born on September 23, 1955, Lewis transitioned from a career as a conservative radio host to politics. His legislative focus included criminal justice reform, vocational training, and fiscal conservatism. According to Wikipedia, he later ran for U.S. Senate in 2020.