Cummings, Norton, Lynch, Connolly, Duckworth Request Briefing on WMATA's Security Protocols After Recent Arrest of Metro Police Officer
Cummings, Norton, Lynch, Connolly, Duckworth Request Briefing on WMATA's Security Protocols After Recent Arrest of Metro Police Officer
Washington, DC (August 5,2016)—Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to the general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, requesting a briefing on WMATA's security protocols after a Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officer was arrested for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported Nicholas Young was arrested for allegedly attempting to provide material support to ISIL, and according to the report, this is the first time a U.S. law enforcement officer has been accused of assisting a terrorist organization. Mr. Young was hired as a MTPD officer in 2003, and had been under FBI investigation since 2010, after the MTPD expressed concerns to the FBI. He, reportedly, however, remained on the MTPD force until Wednesday.
"These reports raise serious questions about the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's process for conducting background checks for MTPD officers, what public safety and information security safeguards were in place during the investigation and monitoring of Mr. Young, and what continuing public safety protections are being implemented," the Members wrote.
The Members requested that the briefing be provided no later than August 11, 2016.
Click here to read today's letter.