That’s right, someone’s keeping track. And after last night’s bust by Florida cops of a Homeland Security official for soliciting sex from a 14-year-old, we’re adding “catching child sex criminals” to that list.
You see, since creating the program three years ago, DHS has actually held up its anti-child-pornography “Operation Predator” as one of its finest accomplishments. From DHS’ July 2003 announcement of the initiative:
“Operation Predator integrates the Department’s authorities to target those who exploit children,” said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. “The Department of Homeland Security is coordinating the Department’s once-fragmented investigative and intelligence resources into a united campaign against child predators.”
…
“There is nothing more important than protecting our children – the future of our nation. Through Operation Predator, ICE is in a unique position to carry out this critical responsibility,” said Michael J. Garcia, Acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
So: if this guy, Brian Doyle, the accused child sex solicitor, is in fact guilty, he was right there under their noses the whole time. According to the Florida sheriff’s office, he was even using DHS phones in his efforts.
DHS uses “the full spectrum of cyber, intelligence, investigative, and detention & removal functions” to catch these child exploiters, the agency has claimed. But it took a county sheriff in Florida to bust Doyle. (I called DHS; they confirmed they played no part in the operation.) Does someone lose their job over this? (I mean, besides Doyle.)
