Results matter. The Attorney General’s office must protect victims, defend consumers, fight corruption, and enforce the law consistently. These are my priorities for delivering real accountability and safer neighborhoods
Priorities
PUBLIC SAFETY
Make D.C. Safer—With Law and Order That Works
Too many Washington, D.C. residents feel unsafe due to repeat violent offenders, gun-related crime, and organized retail theft. Inconsistent enforcement and fragmented coordination between agencies have weakened deterrence and eroded public trust. Last year’s controversy surrounding MPD’s crime data reporting — which led to leadership changes — further raised concerns about transparency and accountability. When residents cannot trust the numbers, confidence in the entire public safety system suffers.
Public safety requires more than headlines — it requires clear priorities, lawful enforcement, accurate reporting, and measurable results. The Office of the Attorney General plays a central role in prosecuting juvenile offenses, enforcing public safety laws, and strengthening coordination across the justice system.
Manuel Rivera will focus prosecution resources on repeat violent offenders and serious juvenile crime, ensuring accountability where it matters most. He will prioritize gun-related offenses and organized retail theft within the office’s jurisdiction while strengthening coordination with the MPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to improve collaboration, streamline information sharing, and move serious cases forward efficiently.
Rivera will also support lawful oversight efforts to promote transparency in crime reporting and restore public confidence in crime safety data. Enforcement will remain consistent and grounded in due process, with resources focused on serious threats and appropriate diversion options for nonviolent, first-time offenders when permitted by law. Victims will be informed, protected, and treated with dignity throughout the legal process.
Housing Enforcement & Tenant Protection
Washington, D.C. residents face high housing costs, housing fraud, and ongoing disputes between tenants and property owners. Deceptive leasing practices, predatory behavior, and prolonged litigation undermine trust and create instability in the housing market. When housing laws are enforced inconsistently, both tenants and responsible landlords suffer.
Manuel Rivera will enforce housing and consumer protection laws firmly and consistently, targeting fraud, illegal rental practices, and landlords who violate tenant protection statutes. At the same time, the office will defend lawful development that complies with District law and ensure enforcement actions are applied fairly and predictably.
Protecting Small Businesses, Workers, and Consumers
Small businesses face legal uncertainty, inconsistent enforcement, and unfair competition from bad actors who cut corners. At the same time, some workers are exploited by employers who violate wage and labor laws with little consequence. When enforcement lacks clarity and consistency, both honest businesses and hardworking employees suffer.
Manuel Rivera will enforce wage, labor, and consumer protection laws fairly and consistently—targeting bad actors while ensuring compliant small businesses are not burdened by unpredictable or disproportionate enforcement actions.
He will establish a Small Business Legal Fairness initiative within the Office of the Attorney General to promote transparency, proportional enforcement, and timely resolution of disputes.
Rivera will aggressively pursue consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, and unfair competition that harm honest businesses and working families. At the same time, the office will provide clear guidance and predictable enforcement standards to support lawful entrepreneurship and economic stability in D.C.
Accountability & Transparency
The Office of the Attorney General should measure success by outcomes—not headlines. When high-profile cases drag on for years, settlement terms lack clarity, or enforcement priorities are unclear, public confidence erodes. Residents deserve transparency in how cases are chosen, how resources are allocated, and what results are achieved.
Manuel Rivera will implement clear, publicly available performance metrics for the office, including case resolution timelines, consumer recoveries, enforcement outcomes, and measurable results.
The office will prioritize cases that produce meaningful, tangible benefits for D.C. residents and ensure that enforcement decisions are guided by public interest—not publicity.
Rivera will increase transparency in settlements, enforcement priorities, and reporting practices so residents can evaluate the office’s performance with confidence.
Consumer Protection & Corporate Accountability
Our residents face predatory financial practices, deceptive advertising, data breaches, and online scams that threaten their privacy and financial security. Too often, enforcement is reactive, penalties are delayed, and settlements fail to provide meaningful relief to consumers.
Manuel Rivera will aggressively enforce consumer protection and data privacy laws, targeting fraud, deceptive business practices, and unlawful corporate conduct that harms residents.
The office will strengthen its response to major data breaches and large-scale consumer harm incidents, ensuring swift investigation and coordinated action when residents’ information or finances are at risk.
Rivera will seek meaningful restitution for victims and pursue penalties that deter future misconduct—prioritizing real recovery for residents over symbolic settlements.
The office will also expand public education efforts to help consumers and small businesses recognize scams, avoid predatory contracts, and protect their financial interests.