Finally, A Member of Congress Questioning DOJ on Black Panther Case

I have to admit, that many people in the Virginia Area Tea Parties were hoping that Frank Wolf would not win his primary battle.  I was one of those people.  Frank Wolf has been in Congress for what seems like forever and his record is middle of the road.  There is nothing extraordinary about his service.  He has also voted for tax increases over the years.  But, this is a very blue area of Virginia so I guess he does what he needs to do to stay in office. 

I may just have to rethink my opinion, at least for now.  Pajamas Media exclusively received a letter that he will be sending out tomorrow. 

Go Frank!!

July 14, 2010







Mr. Glenn Fine
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20530


Dear Mr. Fine:


In light of the recent testimony of Mr. J. Christian Adams before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR), we urge you again to investigate the dismissal of U.S. v. New Black Panther Party. Over the last year, we have asked you on multiple occasions to investigate this matter to no avail. In light of the mounting evidence of improper activities in the department’s Civil Rights Division (CRD), we urge you again to immediately initiate an investigation into this matter.


There is something rotten happening at the department under your watch. Your continued refusal to investigate has been — and remains — inexcusable. One can only surmise that your failure to investigate stems from a fear of upsetting the department’s senior political leadership, some of whom could be directly tied to the dismissal of this case. However, as inspector general, you have a legal and moral obligation to go wherever truth takes you.


As you are aware from our previous correspondence, which we have enclosed for your review, this case was inexplicably dismissed last year — over the ardent objections of the career attorneys overseeing the case as well as the division’s own appeal office. Despite repeated requests for information by members of Congress, the press, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the department continues to stonewall efforts to obtain all information regarding the case’s abrupt dismissal. Recent events and information has compounded this troubling situation.


Mr. Adams was a career attorney with CRD before resigning last month in response to the department’s illegitimate instruction that he not comply with a USCCR subpoena. We are deeply concerned that the department, which is statutorily obliged to execute USCCR subpoenas, is in fact obstructing individuals from complying in this matter. We believe that this obstruction — aside from the many troubling actions surrounding the dismissal of the case — merits an investigation into the department’s enforcement of the commission’s statutory authority.


Additionally, we are concerned about revelations from Mr. Adams’ testimony that Deputy Assistant Attorney General Julie Fernandes, a political appointee, reportedly forbid CRD attorneys from bringing forward additional voting intimidation cases in which the defendant was a national minority. We believe that this allegation merits immediate investigation. There is no excuse for the selective application of federal law based on the whims of political appointees.


You should also be aware that Rep. Wolf has asked the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) to review your failure to investigate this matter. It is our understanding that the CIGIE’s Integrity Committee will be discussing your actions at its July meeting. We appreciate the CIGIE’s prompt attention to this matter and look forward to its response.


We urge you again to investigate the myriad of troubling issues surrounding the dismissal of this case. With the commission obstructed from fully conducting its investigation and the congressional majority turning a blind eye, the inspector general must be willing to ensure the integrity of the department. We appeal to you to fulfill the duties of your office.






Sincerely,


Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress