Congressman Issa Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Accountability at Department of Justice
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Darrell Issa and Congresswoman Deborah Ross introduced the Inspector General Access Act to enhance key accountability throughout the Department of Justice by empowering its Office of Inspector General with new oversight over DOJ attorneys. Issa and Ross were also joined by Reps. Jamie Raskin, Carolyn Maloney, Gerry Connolly and Jody B. Hice as cosponsors.
“The mission of every Inspector General is to provide a critical check on government misconduct and essential transparency that backs up the people’s right to know. With this bipartisan reform, the Congress is appropriately empowering this unique tool of oversight and accountability,” said Issa.
Currently, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice has no authority to investigate professional misconduct by DOJ attorneys. This is the only IG with this oversight limit.
In January 2019, the House unanimously approved this bill, and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Senate companion by a vote of 21-1.
Senators Dick Durbin (IL) and Mike Lee (UT) also introduced identical companion legislation, which is backed by 12 Senators, six from each party.
Read the full text of the House bill here.
Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 50th Congressional District. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.
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