Kucinich: Justice Not Served; Calls Justice Dept. Deal With Tobacco Companies Shameful
Washington,
Jun 10, 2005 -
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today on the Justice Department’s actions over the past week in the lawsuit against the tobacco company:
“The actions of the Department of Justice, and the Administration, over the past week to essentially gut the lawsuit against the tobacco company is shameless, and is nothing but political payback for the industry’s overwhelming financial support of this Administration.
“The decision puts the health and well being of the tobacco companies above the health and well being of the American people.
“Tobacco use kills more than 400,000 people each year in this country and costs our nation $75 billion in direct health care costs.
“This decision will endanger lives, hurt our economy, and is a devastating blow to anti-smoking campaigns.
“No one, not even the most politically connected industries in the country, is above the law. Before undercutting its own case the Department of Justice presented a strong case, it is now urgent that Congress step in and ensure that justice is served.”
