The ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has stepped up his criticism of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, saying she did not do enough to make sure the Park Police was ready to deal with violent protests that erupted in Washington last month.
Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso cited his “grave concern” in a letter he sent to Haaland on Friday, accusing her of failing to address “the criminal, violent actions of pro-terror, anti-Israel protesters on federal property” during a visit to Capitol Hill last month by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Your failure to act decisively jeopardizes the safety of federal personnel and diminishes public trust in DOI’s ability to uphold the rule of law,” the Republican said in his letter.
Barrasso wrote a similar letter earlier, telling Haaland she failed to properly address pro-Palestinian protests near the White House in June.
