“We are very disappointed in the Court’s decision today dismissing the indictment. We take our duty to protect children very seriously. Congress sought to protect young girls from the cruelty of the practice of female genital mutilation when it enacted 18 U.S.C. § 116 in 1996. Congress reaffirmed the importance of this law when it re-enacted the statue in 2020 after the Court’s dismissal of the charge in this case as unconstitutional. Child victims are vulnerable and they deserve our best efforts to hold accountable those who harm them. Our prosecutorial team is comprised of some of our best and most experienced prosecutors. I stand behind them and commend them for their dedication, integrity, and commitment to protect innocent child victims of female genital mutilation."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
