Feingold Questions Holder About Fort Hood Prosecution, Heroin Trafficking In Wisconsin

Press Release

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold asked Attorney General Eric Holder about the government's inquiry into the Fort Hood tragedy, as well as the increase in heroin trafficking in Wisconsin. Two Wisconsin service members were killed and four others were injured during the November 5th Fort Hood shooting. At today's hearing, Feingold asked Holder to make public to the greatest extent possible the results of the executive branch's review of what went wrong, so that the American people, and the families who lost loved ones, can understand what, if anything, could have been done to prevent the tragedy and what should be done to prevent future tragedies of this kind.

Feingold also asked Holder about the growing problem of heroin use in Wisconsin, including the alarming increase in heroin-related deaths. In Rock County alone, there have been 12 heroin-related deaths this year. Feingold asked Holder what steps the Department of Justice is taking to reduce heroin trafficking in Wisconsin and nationwide.

Audio of the exchange is here.

Transcript of Ft. Hood Q&A

Feingold: As several Senators have discussed, we were all devastated by the tragedy at Fort Hood. It's been especially hard for Wisconsin. Senator Kohl mentioned two brave Wisconsin soldiers who were murdered and several more that were injured. I know that the President has ordered a thorough government-wide review of what the United States government knew, and what went wrong. I and my colleagues on the committee will be very interested in the outcome of that. I appreciate that there is not a lot that you can say in public now, and it's important not to jump to conclusions, and especially not to jeopardize the murder prosecution, but I hope the review will be expedited.

You discussed with Senator Leahy sharing the results of your review with members of this committee, which I appreciate, but I want the record to be clear. Will you commit to making public to the greatest degree possible the conclusions the executive branch reaches so that the American people, and most of all the families who lost love ones, have an opportunity to understand what if anything could have been done to prevent this tragedy?

Holder: In a way that's consistent with ensuring that we don't do harm to the potential trial. I think that it is our obligation to make clear to this committee, to the American public, what the results of our investigation are so that we have a way in which, working with this committee, we prevent further tragedies like that occurred at Fort Hood.

Transcript of Heroin Q&A

Feingold: During town hall meetings, and other exchanges I've had with a lot of Wisconsin law enforcement people over the last several years, I've heard that progress has actually been made in combating methamphetamine production and use, which is good news. Unfortunately there's also been a significant increase in heroin coming into the state, quite possibly as a replacement for meth, and this heroin is often very pure and, therefore, very dangerous. Wisconsin law enforcement reports, not only is there increasing violent crime associated with heroin trafficking, but there's also been a disturbing increase in heroin-related deaths.

Rock County, my home county, in south central Wisconsin has already had 12 heroin-related deaths this year and I'm concerned this may be part of a larger nationwide trend. Senator Kohl and I have addressed this increase in Rock County by requesting that it receive funding through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Assistance Program. I'd like to know whether this trend is emerging in other states and what steps is the Department of Justice taking to reduce heroin trafficking in Wisconsin and elsewhere?

Holder: We certainly have seen an increase, chiefly from Mexico, in the movement of heroin into the United States. The problem you have identified in Wisconsin is one that we see in other parts of the country. I know that Baltimore has a particular heroin problem, but we see it in other states as well. The Department of Justice, in conjunction, well the DEA is part of the Justice Department, is using all of the tactics we have, all of the skills we have to try to get at that emerging heroin problem. I think a lot of people thought that heroin was a problem of the past, but the concern that you are raising is a very, very legitimate one and one that we are focusing on. We have to combat heroin yet again, and we are doing so.

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