The federal government’s investigative arms can perform speedy and thorough criminal investigations … when they want to. As I write this, it is approximately 60 hours since the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In that time, the perpetrator has been arrested, identified, interviewed and charged.

This past January, in Minneapolis, Renee Good was shot dead by an ICE agent, and 2½ weeks later Alex Pretti was shot dead by a group of CBP agents, both while protesting immigration enforcement operations. Following each fatal shooting, DHS launched an “investigation.”

More than three months have passed since these shootings. Where are the results of these federal investigations? Are there no charges, disciplinary actions or recruiting, training or policy modifications to prevent such incidents from recurring? 

Perhaps most troubling, why have no actions have been taken by Congress, and particularly Sen. Susan Collins, to obtain results of these investigations? Senator Collins has voted to restore funding to DHS with no curbs on agents’ methods. At a minimum, she and the finance committee she chairs should demand results of these “investigations” as a price for her vote.

As a senator, she swore an oath (five times, so she must know it by now) to “support and defend” the Constitution, which includes the right to freedom of speech. That Good and Pretti were killed for exercising that right with no adequate response from Collins shows that she is no longer fit to serve and must be replaced. 

Richard Hendee
Freeport