Hoeven Statement on the Obama Administration's Refusal to Send Additional Law Enforcement Help for DAPL Protests

Statement

Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice refused to provide Morton County with additional law enforcement personnel as they requested again earlier this week. The DOJ also notified the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation today that it will not approve an application for funding submitted under the Byrne Grant program, which is administered by the DOJ:

"The Obama administration again declined our request for both law enforcement personnel and funding to address the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. We have repeatedly requested federal law enforcement assistance to help state and local law enforcement, who have shown dedication and professionalism in working to keep the peace and protect people who live and work in the area of the protests. Further, they have denied assistance despite the fact that the Obama administration has prolonged the problem by refusing to approve the easement, which would allow the pipeline project to be completed.

"That's why we have already reached out to the next administration to provide assistance to state and local law enforcement to help them keep the peace, as well as to issue the easement so that construction can be completed. We have spoken with Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, Attorney General Nominee Jeff Sessions and the Trump transition team to secure this assistance, and we will work in Congress to secure funding as well. We are committed to doing all we can to resolve this problem, which has been very difficult for North Dakotans."

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