SLC Times

Sens. Mike Lee and Dick Durbin have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General to include alleged misconduct by DOJ attorneys. Senator Lee expressed his thoughts on the matter, stating, "The current IG oversight exemption for DOJ attorneys is nonsensical and undermines accountability in our justice system." He further added, "Our simple bill changes that, ensuring DOJ attorneys are no longer off-limits for IG investigations. I'm proud to partner with Senator Durbin on this common-sense bipartisan effort."

Senator Durbin echoed the sentiment, describing the bill as a "simple, bipartisan" solution to close a significant legal loophole. He emphasized the importance of independent oversight over the Attorney General and expressed gratitude towards Senator Lee for his leadership on the bill. Senator Durbin stated, "We should all agree that whoever the Attorney General is, he or she should be subject to independent oversight."

The Inspector General Access Act, as outlined by the senators, seeks to address the lack of oversight of DOJ prosecutors by removing the jurisdictional carve-out in Section 413 of Title 5, United States Code. This change would empower the DOJ's Inspector General to investigate allegations of misconduct against Department lawyers, aligning the practices within the DOJ with those of other federal agencies.

The bill has garnered support from a bipartisan group of senators, including Chuck Grassley, Amy Klobuchar, Ted Cruz, Richard Blumenthal, Josh Hawley, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Mazie Hirono, Peter Welch, and Laphonza Butler. The cosponsors reflect a diverse range of political affiliations, highlighting the bipartisan nature of the initiative.

By introducing the Inspector General Access Act, Senators Lee and Durbin aim to enhance oversight, accountability, and transparency within the Department of Justice, ensuring that all employees, including attorneys, are subject to independent scrutiny.