U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Press Release

After Charlottesville Attack, Baldwin and Twenty-Three Senators Press DHS on Trump Administration’s De-emphasis of Domestic Terrorism Efforts

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and a group of 23 other Senators are pressing the Department of Homeland Security on questions arising from the Trump Administration’s apparent de-emphasis on protecting Americans from domestic terrorism.

By - Aug 19th, 2017 09:34 am

WASHINGTON, D.C. In the wake of the deadly attack stemming from a far-right demonstration in Charlottesville, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and a group of 23 other Senators are pressing the Department of Homeland Security on questions arising from the Trump Administration’s apparent de-emphasis on protecting Americans from domestic terrorism, especially the Administration’s apparent decision to de-emphasize combating far-right extremism.

The Senators, led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), questioned DHS Acting Secretary Elaine Duke about the department’s apparent shift in focus.  In the letter, the Senators wrote: “The alleged attack that killed one innocent person and injured at least nineteen others in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend was seemingly not just an ugly display of racist violence, it was likely also an incident of domestic terrorism.  Yet as our nation confronts the problem of growing racial, religious and even political hatred, we are concerned that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may not be adequately addressing one of the most significant threats of domestic terrorism.”

The senators noted that the Trump Administration revoked DHS funding to Life After Hate, an organization devoted to the rehabilitation of former neo-Nazis and other extremists.  The Senators continued, “Several new grantees were added, but it now appears the focus on far-right extremism has been significantly reduced, if not completely eliminated.”  The senators asked DHS to explain its decision, and to clarify reports that Trump transition team aide Katharine Gorka “may have played a role in the decisions about which groups would and would not receive [Countering Violent Extremism] grants.”

The Senators expressed concern that “troubling indications of this Administration’s priorities are not limited to these developments.  President Trump kept silent after the August 5, 2017, bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq mosque in Bloomington, Minnesota.   And the President faced two days of mounting pressure before finally denouncing far-right groups after the Charlottesville attack, while declaring the next day that ‘I think there’s blame on both sides.’  Far-right extremist groups, including neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, white supremacists, and other groups motivated by racial and ethnic hatred, present a significant risk of violence and domestic terrorism.  It is critical that the Administration’s policies and priorities reflect this risk, and protect all Americans from violence and domestic terrorism.”

Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Corey A. Booker (D-NJ), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) also signed the letter.

A copy of the letter is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Mentioned in This Press Release

Recent Press Releases by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Baldwin Delivers Nearly $450,000 to Lower Prices at the Pump in Northwest Wisconsin

Baldwin-backed funding will expand access to clean biofuels

Baldwin Announces Nearly $73 Million for Milwaukee Rail Project

Baldwin-championed project needed for more Milwaukee-Chicago passenger rail trips and boosting freight capacity

Baldwin Calls on Biden Administration to Investigate China’s Role in Fueling the Fentanyl Crisis

Baldwin stands with families whose loved ones died of fentanyl overdoses and supports their petition to launch probe and hold PRC accountable

Comments

  1. Rita says:

    Dangerous move, Senators. Are you trying to help take our civil rights away? I suppose one gets used to declaring all in your way to be terrorists.

Leave a Reply

You must be an Urban Milwaukee member to leave a comment. Membership, which includes a host of perks, including an ad-free website, tickets to marquee events like Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair and the Florentine Opera, a better photo browser and access to members-only, behind-the-scenes tours, starts at $9/month. Learn more.

Join now and cancel anytime.

If you are an existing member, sign-in to leave a comment.

Have questions? Need to report an error? Contact Us