DOJ Report: Known Terrorists Not Put on Watch Lists

The U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security (Democrats) has issued a Press Release which cites a Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General audit. Entitled "Interim Report on the Department of Justice’s Handling of Known or Suspected Terrorists Admitted into the Federal Witness Security Program", the audit had found that known terrorists, who had been admitted into the Federal Witness Protection Program, had been left off watch lists. In the words of Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee: "The Inspector General's audit of the federal Witness Security Program is an alarming example of the information sharing vulnerabilities that still remain over a decade after September 11th. The audit revealed that the FBI and Terrorist Screening Center did not know about, and were not involved in monitoring, individuals in the program – essentially leaving them to freely move around the country with new identities the government provided. I am pleased that the Deputy Attorney General has implemented corrective action and am glad the Department of Justice is seriously addressing these information-sharing gaps."

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