Vice President Joe Biden doubled down on his argument that rapes and murders will increase if Republicans block President Obama’s jobs proposals, although he did not hold opponents personally responsible for the crimes.

“Is it your intention to say,” CNN’s Candy Crowley asked, “that if Republicans don’t pass the president’s jobs bill, they will be responsible for increases in rape and murder?” Biden replied, “Well, no . . . [but] when you drastically cut the number of police in cities, which is happening all across America, crime goes up. That is a fact.”