FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2002 WWW.USDOJ.GOV AG (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C.- Attorney General John Ashcroft issued the following statement regarding Inspector General Glenn Fine's report on the matter involving missing weapons and laptop computers within the Department of Justice's component agencies. Ashcroft requested the Inspector General's report in July 2001.
"The American people expect and deserve absolute accountability from public officials. The Department of Justice's component agencies are essential to the success of the criminal justice system, and we place a high priority on correcting any problems within these components. Last July, I asked Inspector General Glenn Fine to determine where accountability has faltered, especially relating to firearms and information technology resources, and to help the Department design a way to keep this from recurring.
"The FBI is one agency that has already taken important steps to rectify accounting systems for weapons and laptop computers. Through the FBI's new Security Division, there will be rigorous enforcement of accounting for property and individual responsibility for lost property. Additionally, I am also directing all of the Department's component agencies to take specific steps to ensure weapons and laptops computers do not fall into the wrong hands.
"I thank the Inspector General for his hard work and diligence in producing this report. The Department of Justice is committed to implementing necessary reforms and policies, and these recommendations will be integral to this effort. We will use this information to help build a more accountable, responsible government to serve the American people." 02-454
Source: US Department of Justice
