Chaffetz Responds to DOJ Inspector General Report on Misconduct Within Law Enforcement Components
WASHINGTON— The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) today released a report that examines how the DOJ’s four law enforcement components respond to sexual misconduct and harassment allegations made by their employees. The report found, among other things, that “the foreign officer allegedly arranged ‘sex parties’ with prostitutes funded by the local drug cartels for these DEA agents at their government-leased quarters,” and “a foreign officer also alleged providing protection for the DEA agents’ weapons and property during the parties.” (page 27) Upon learning of today’s report, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) released the following statement:
“The allegations set forth in today’s DOJ OIG report are truly stunning. Let there be no mistake this is a national security threat. While the vast majority of employees do quality work, the bad apples highlighted in the report taint their service. We need to hold them accountable and, given the clear evidence in the OIG report, they should be fired immediately. The gross misconduct of DEA agents follows a disturbing pattern of risky and improper behavior afflicting Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. We need to weed out those who risk our national security, embarrass the country, and skirt the law. We need to find the root of the culture and management problems inside these agencies that allow such behavior to be left unchecked. This needs to end. We must take active measures to restore these agencies to prominence. The IG has prepared a remarkable report and the Oversight Committee will pursue this vigorously.”