Press Releases

Beyer, Wexton, Norton, Connolly Blast FBI, Justice Department For Refusal To Answer Questions In Ghaisar Case

As FBI response to inquiry from then-Chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley fails to answer any questions despite three-month time lapse

Washington, March 27, 2019

Tags: Equality

Today Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) condemned the FBI’s failure to answer a series of basic questions posed by former Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley about its 16-month investigation into the shooting of Bijan Ghaisar.

The Members of Congress said:

“It boggles our minds that the FBI took three months to send such a brief letter which says essentially nothing to the former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is not an acceptable way for public servants to treat Members of Congress or the people we represent, especially when we are over sixteen months without receiving the most basic details about what happened to Bijan Ghaisar.

“The Justice Department and the FBI’s refusal to provide transparency and accountability about a fatal police shooting is shocking. Every day that goes without answers in this case further erodes the trust that justice can be done. Bijan’s family deserves better.

“We thank Senator Grassley for his efforts to establish the truth. We will not let this matter rest until we find out what happened.”

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) previously sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray in December seeking updates on the investigation; this week’s response from an Assistant FBI Director came after a delay of three months.

Reps. Don Beyer, Jennifer Wexton, Gerry Connolly and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton have long sought answers in the Bijan Ghaisar shooting case on behalf of the Ghaisar family.