Robert MacLean’s response to the killing of Bijan Ghaisar shows that he is the wrong person for this job, and I urge the Department of the Interior’s leadership to reconsider his appointment. My statement: beyer.house.gov/news/documents…
https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1414716688390631433
Secretary Haaland’s efforts to strengthen community trust and ensure reform after last summer’s violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square are admirable and necessary. I worry the task force will not achieve these ends if it is led by Director MacLean.
I have not forgotten that Mr. MacLean refused for years to answer questions from community leaders and Members of Congress, including me, about the shooting of an unarmed man, Bijan Ghaisar, in my district by two officers who served under him in the U.S. Park Police.
Mr. MacLean subsequently refused to engage with the Ghaisar family, explain how the officers’ actions were justified under the U.S. Park Police’s use of force guidelines, or even reveal the officers’ names until he was forced to do so by court order.
Given this track record, MacLean’s selection to head a task force charged with improving community trust, transparency, and policing oversight is inappropriate. @Interior and the National Capital Region would be well served if the Secretary chose someone else to lead this effort.
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