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Tag: Bethany MaGee
November 25, 2025
Crime
News

Trump Slams Chicago Crime and Liberal Judges After Career Criminal Sets Woman on Fire.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized Chicago crime and “liberal judges” after a woman was set on fire on a train, allegedly by a man with 72 prior arrests who was out on bond.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), victim Bethany MaGee, and alleged attacker Lawrence Reed.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred in Chicago, Illinois, on November 17; Trump spoke during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon at the White House.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “They burned this beautiful woman riding in a train. A man was arrested 72 times. Think of that. And they’ll let him out again, the liberal judges will let him out again.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump renewed calls to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to address violent crime; critics are pointing to progressive criminal policies as enabling repeat offenders.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump highlighted Chicago crime and lambasted “liberal judges” after Bethany MaGee was set on fire on a subway train, allegedly by Lawrence Reed, a man with 72 prior arrests who had been released on bond despite prosecutors seeking detention.

The attack happened on November 17. Trump raised the case during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon at the White House and again called for National Guard troops to be sent to the city.

Trump said: “This is a very serious thing. They burned this beautiful woman riding in a train. A man was arrested 72 times. Think of that. And they’ll let him out again, the liberal judges will let him out again.”He added: “We’re going to lose a great city if we don’t do it quickly.”

Trump has repeatedly offered federal troops to Chicago, pointing to past deployments in other cities to fight violent crime. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) have rejected the idea, calling it unconstitutional and denying there is a crime crisis.

Critics of Illinois’ progressive criminal justice policies pointed to the MaGee case as an example of repeat offenders committing serious crimes while on release. Reed had been placed on electronic monitoring in August but reportedly violated curfew and movement restrictions before the alleged attack. Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez had denied prosecutors’ request to detain him, saying: “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.”

The White House posted on X: “Liberal soft-on-crime policies are FAILING American communities and endangering law-abiding citizens. A career criminal with 72 arrests should have never been free to roam the streets. Pray for Bethany.”

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November 24, 2025
Crime

Woman Set on Fire by Serial Offender on Train Identified.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A woman was doused in gasoline and set alight by a serial offender while riding Chicago’s Blue Line metro service.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Victim Bethany MaGee, 26, and suspect Lawrence Reed, 50, who has 72 prior arrests.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: November 17 on Chicago’s Blue Line metro service.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This tragic crime should have never happened and it sadly highlights the dangers of Democrat control.” – White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson.

🎯IMPACT: The attack has reignited debates over crime policy and judicial laxity when dealing with violent criminals, with federal terrorism charges filed against Reed.

IN FULL

The woman who was doused with gasoline and set on fire while traveling on Chicago‘s Blue Line metro train on November 17 and her alleged attacker have been identified. Bethany MaGee, a 26-year-old business research analyst at Caterpillar, suffered burns to 60 percent of her body after being attacked by Lawrence Reed, 50, a repeat offender with 72 prior arrests. Reed was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the attack, having been released by a judge following an August assault on a social worker.

Reed allegedly approached Ms. MaGee while she was using her mobile phone, poured gasoline over her, and ignited the liquid while shouting, “burn alive b***h,” according to a criminal affidavit. Ms. MaGee managed to escape the train and collapsed at Clark and Lake station. Her recovery is expected to take at least three months. Witnesses removed their coats to extinguish the flames and comforted her until paramedics arrived.

Reed, who has a criminal history spanning three decades, faces federal terrorism charges. Prosecutors had previously warned Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez about Reed’s violent tendencies during an August court appearance. Despite these warnings, Judge Molina-Gonzalez released him, stating, “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the state’s attorney wants me to.”

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy publicly identified Ms. MaGee on Sunday, condemning the attack and highlighting the suspect’s extensive criminal record. “It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train, and setting her on fire,” Duffy wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The attack has prompted the Trump White House to consider deploying National Guard troops to the city.

The attack has drawn comparisons to the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail service in August, allegedly by Decarlos Brown Jr., who said “I got that white girl” after fatally stabbing her. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said in a statement, “This tragic crime should have never happened, and it sadly highlights the dangers of Democrat control.”

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