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U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release April 6, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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| SEN. SALAZAR
CALLS FOR FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF IMPERSONATION OF LAW OFFICER AT SOCIAL
SECURITY EVENT WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator Ken Salazar today released a letter he sent to local and federal officials calling for a formal investigation of the alleged impersonation of a Secret Service agent by a Republican Party staffer at a Denver town hall forum on Social Security privatization last month. Both Colorado and federal laws make it a crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer. Salazar sent the letter to Dennis Schindel of the Office of Inspector General of the Dept. of Treasury (which has oversight of the Secret Service) and to Denver D.A. Mitch Morrisey. “These allegations, if true, are extremely troubling,” said Salazar. “The impersonation of a Secret Service agent is a disservice to the men and women who serve the president in that capacity. We should do everything we can to guard their entrusted role.” “Both Colorado state and federal laws make it a crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer,” continued Salazar. “Allowing this incident to go unchecked sets a bad precedent that has implications on public safety and free speech across the nation.” In his April 5 letter, Senator Salazar noted that the removal of Karen Bauer, Alex Young and Leslie Weise potentially violated Colorado law (§18-8-112 and §18-8-113, C.R.S., which state that the impersonation of a law enforcement officer or public servant is a crime) as well as federal law (18 U.S.C. §912, which states that the impersonation of a federal officer or employee is a crime). On March 21, 2005, Bauer, Young and Weise were removed from the White House Social Security town-hall meeting by an as-yet unnamed Republican operative who, according to accounts, identified himself as a Secret Service agent. Bauer, Young and Weise were removed from the event despite having not caused any disturbance at the event. Included below is a copy of the letter Senator Salazar sent. April 5, 2005 Mr. Dennis S. Schindel Honorable Mitch Morrissey Dear Mr. Schindel and District Attorney Morrissey: I am writing to request that you investigate a matter related to the alleged impersonation of a Secret Service agent by a political operative at a recent town hall forum hosted by the President. I understand three Colorado residents were allegedly forcibly removed from a town hall forum on Social Security in Denver at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum on March 2, 2005 – one in a series of such forums hosted by President Bush – by an individual who may have been falsely posing as an agent of the U.S. Secret Service. The three also allege they were threatened with arrest if they did not leave. I am extremely troubled by these allegations. Both Colorado state and federal laws make it a crime to impersonate a law enforcement officer. Specifically, Colorado law makes it clear that the impersonation of a law enforcement officer or public servant is a crime, §18-8-112 and §18-8-113, C.R.S. Moreover, under federal law, a crime is committed by a person impersonating a federal officer or employee and that crime is punishable by up to three years in prison, 18 U.S.C. §912. Other state or federal laws may apply. The three Coloradans, Karen Bauer, Alex Young, and Leslie Weise have contacted me regarding their removal from the event. I accordingly ask you to undertake an investigation into this matter and, if the facts so warrant, to prosecute those who have violated either state or federal law.
Sincerely, Ken Salazar
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