Rep. Jasmine Crockett Faces Backlash Over Comments on Texas Teen Murder Sentencing

U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, sparked widespread criticism after repeatedly defending Karmelo Anthony, the 19‑year‑old convicted of first‑degree murder for stabbing 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet. The jury, composed entirely of white jurors, found Anthony guilty in under four hours on June 9, 2026, and a Collin County judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison on June 10.

Crockett’s remarks on her podcast minimized the brutality of the attack, claimed the weapon—a 5‑inch semi‑serrated pocket knife—was not a deadly weapon, and suggested she herself would have stabbed Metcalf in the same situation. She alleged racial bias in the trial, questioning whether Anthony would have received the same sentence if he were white and asserting that “the system is broken.” These statements provoked outrage and reignited debate over racial disparities in the U.S. justice system and jury composition. Anthony’s defense team has filed an appeal, while Crockett’s comments have drawn condemnation from media outlets and the public.