Goodlatte Statement on Misconduct at the Drug Enforcement Administration

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today issued the following statement on the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s report regarding sexual misconduct and harassment allegations at four federal law enforcement agencies. Among its findings, the report found that several Drug Enforcement Administration agents allegedly had “sex parties” with prostitutes hired by drug cartels in Colombia while Colombian police officers watched their weapons and property. These actions were discovered during a series of interviews conducted by the DEA’s Office of Professional Responsibility from 2009 through 2010.
 
Chairman Goodlatte: “Once again, some federal law enforcement agents are acting like they belong in a college frat house rather than at a taxpayer-funded law enforcement agency tasked with interdicting illegal drugs. It’s extremely troubling that federal drug agents lacked the common sense to know that engaging with prostitutes hired by drug cartels was a bad idea. Not only is this risky behavior unacceptable and unbecoming of federal law enforcement officers, it could also have compromised the agents’ mission. We must ensure that everyone involved is appropriately held accountable for their actions.  

“The House Judiciary Committee will continue its aggressive oversight of the Drug Enforcement Administration, including further investigating this matter and keeping a watchful eye on the behavior of all its employees. The wild and reckless conduct exhibited by some federal law enforcement officers must stop.”