Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) issued a statement praising President Donald Trump's recent executive order to end the Department of Justice (DOJ) weaponization against state and local law enforcement, including the Phoenix Police Department.
In late March, Rep. Hamadeh demanded action in response to claims that the Biden Administration weaponized the DOJ against the Phoenix Police Department, investigating them for supposed racial discrimination, excessive force, and other civil rights violations toward the homeless and mentally disabled.
One incident under scrutiny was the police's response to the 2017 protests against Trump, which was met with accusations of excessive force despite the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that their actions were lawful.
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Rep. Hamadeh derided the Biden DOJ's claims as "a desperate witch hunt" and "nothing more than an attempt to undercut valid police work, leaving my constituents - both officers and civilians - at risk."
"Despite the Biden DOJ's baseless claims, our officers did everything right, voluntarily cooperating in good faith, opening their records, and participating in lengthy interviews," he continued. "They were met with stonewalling, mischaracterized testimony, and a final report riddled with glaring inaccuracies."
On Monday, Trump issued an Executive Order named "Strengthening and Unleashing America's Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens," part of which requires the Attorney General to "review all ongoing Federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements, and post-judgment orders to which a State or local law enforcement agency is a party…" as the Arizona Congressman's press release described.
"I am grateful to President Trump for hearing my call on behalf of our local law enforcement officers who have been unduly burdened by the weaponization of the Department of Justice," Hamadeh said, adding, "As I have said before, the men and women of our local law enforcement agencies run to the sound of danger, so it is only right that we run to their defense when they are under fire from political opportunists. This Executive Order does that."
