Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 21 Senate colleagues joined a letter sent by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to Attorney General Barr following up on their previous letter requesting that the Department of Justice open an investigation into patterns and practices of racially discriminatory and violent policing in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The Senators asked for an explanation from Attorney General Barr on why he did not respond to their letter and to explain his statements on June 7 in an appearance on Face the Nation during which he said, “I don’t think necessarily starting a pattern or practice investigation at this stage is warranted.”
“If you believe, as you implied on the show, that such an investigation is not warranted, we ask that you provide a full explanation why, given these outrageous facts, you would refuse to initiate the investigation,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Appearing on a Sunday show is not an acceptable response to our letter. It is imperative that you formally inform us of your decision whether to open a pattern and practice investigation at the MPD,” the lawmakers continued.
The full text of the letter can be found here.