Biden won’t veto GOP effort to repeal D.C. criminal code

President Joe Biden told Senate Democrats on Thursday that he would not veto a GOP-backed bid to repeal changes to the D.C. criminal code, raising the stakes of an upcoming Senate vote, according to two people in the meeting.

Biden's disinterest in a veto threat leaves Republicans on track to roll back the new D.C. law with the support of at least one Senate Democrat when the chamber takes up the House-passed measure as soon as next week. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has already said he will support the disapproval measure, and Senate Democrats can't afford any more defections.

Republicans have criticized the updated criminal code for softening sentencing guidelines on certain crimes, and the City Council had to override Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s veto to pass it.