Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Tuesday called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make public the findings of a Justice Department task force whose jurisdiction spans from marijuana policy to civil asset forfeiture.
Sessions formed the “Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety” in February after Trump demanded it in an executive order. In April, Sessions announced the broad purview of the task force’s “variety of subcommittees,” including “violent crime reduction,” “charging,” “sentencing,” “marijuana,” “our use of asset forfeiture,” “hate crimes” and “immigration enforcement and human trafficking.”
On July 26, Sessions announced that the task force had “provided me with recommendations on a rolling basis,” but didn’t specify what they were.
Wyden wasn’t pleased: “Americans remain in the dark about the content of the task force’s recommendations, and which of your actions as attorney general are being based on these recommendations,” he wrote. “It is concerning to see this administration failing, once again, to be transparent and straightforward with the American people about the motivations behind its policy shifts.”
Sessions has already changed the official DOJ line on several issues addressed by the task force, including civil asset forfeiture — seizing individuals’ property even without them being charged or found guilty of a crime.
Wyden expressed particular concern about the task force’s recommendations concerning marijuana, of which Sessions is known not to be a fan.
“The citizens of Oregon voted to legalize medical and recreational marijuana, and it is not the role of the attorney general to unilaterally undermine the will of Oregon voters on the basis of uncorroborated claims and furtive recommendations made by a task force shielded from public input and scrutiny,” he wrote.
H/t The Hill.
Proud of my Sr. Senator. Also proud that he along with my other Senator were two of the handful of Democratic Senators who voted no of Trump’s FBI pick to replace Comey.
Go Ron! I see him on TV some much now that I can hear his voice when I read his quotes.
Get 'em, Ron (before they brutally scratch one another)!
Big public task force announcement; non-publicized meetings; secret recommendations; sudden policy changes brought about by fiat.
Yep, sounds like a Banana Republic to me.
All we’re missing is the “Glorious Leader” moniker for our Asshat in Chief.
Keep your thumb on him Ron, love my Senator!