United States Park Police

Senator Mark Warner
Congressional Record: 116th Congress
20 May 2020

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today concerning the tragic death 
of a young Virginian, Bijan Ghaisar, who was shot and killed by two 
U.S. Park Police officers over 2 years ago.
  While this tragic incident occurred, as I mentioned, more than 2 
years ago, many questions remain unanswered regarding the circumstances 
of Bijan's death. Unfortunately, the Department of the Interior has 
failed to answer many of the basic questions that I have asked about 
the night of Bijan's death and subsequent actions the National Park 
Service has taken following the shooting.
  In November of last year, I wrote the Department and requested 
information about the U.S. Park Police's use of force and vehicle 
pursuit policies, as well as information about the Park Service's 
response in the aftermath of Bijan's shooting. Unfortunately, there has 
been no response.
  The Department found time to do some PR work. They provided copies of 
the updated use of force and vehicle pursuit policies to the Washington 
Post earlier this year, but I still have not received a response to my 
letter that was sent over 6 months ago.
  To this point, the Department has failed to answer many basic 
questions about this incident--questions that I have asked, as well as 
my friend, the senior Senator from Wyoming. They are questions about 
the incident, such as these: Did the Department open an internal 
affairs inquiry into the incident to see if any violations of Park 
Police policy occurred? What is the timeline for such an investigation? 
Is the U.S. Park Police conducting a thorough after-action review of 
the incident? What is the status of the Park Police officers involved 
in the incident? Are they on administrative leave, desk duty, or are 
they back on patrol?

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  These are basic questions. If the Department of the Interior had any 
interest in transparency, they could answer them today. The Ghaisar 
family deserves answers about what happened to Bijan. The pain they 
have experienced over the last 2 years is immeasurable. As if the 
premature death of their son wasn't bad enough, they have waited 2 
years for answers from a Federal Government that has failed completely 
to adequately respond to this tragedy.
  I am not going to rest until the Ghaisar family has the answers they 
deserve about what happened to Bijan that night. If the Department 
wants to ignore these basic questions I have asked and if they want to 
disregard legitimate congressional oversight, then there will be 
consequences until their action changes.
  In February, I voted against Katharine MacGregor's nomination to be 
Deputy Secretary of the Interior. I said very clearly at that time that 
if the Department of the Interior continues to ignore my questions 
about the killing of Bijan Ghaisar, I would hold up future Interior 
nominees. For this reason, I am today placing a hold on the nomination 
of Lanny Erdos to serve as Director of the Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement within the Department of the Interior.
  If we don't get answers to legitimate questions that I and other 
Members of this body and Members of the House have raised about the 
shooting of Bijan Ghaisar, I am prepared to hold up even more nominees. 
This is not something I take lightly. Holding up nominees should always 
be a last resort. But I have been patient and Bijan's family has been 
patient, and still the Department of the Interior has been silent.
  For Bijan's family, 2 years is too long to wait. They deserve answers 
about what happened the night their son was shot and killed. I urge the 
Department to swiftly provide substantive answers to my outstanding 
questions regarding the death of Bijan and the Department's response.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.