The sudden change of tour itinerary causes concern.
Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal went to visit the Danbury Federal Correctional Institution this week anticipating a tour of the entire facility. Just hours before they arrived, the prison officials rejected the initial itinerary. They refused to show the senators where they kept their inmates, citing COVID-19 safety protocols as the reason. The senators expressed their concerns upon leaving the facility.
“This facility, even during COVID, should be open for inspection by policymakers,” said Blumenthal after the tour. “We need to see it during good times, but we also need to see it during bad times. And if the Bureau of Prisons has decided that U.S. lawmakers are not going to be able to see what is really happening inside these prisons during a crisis, that’s a problem.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For members of Congress as they attempt to do their duty of providing oversight of federal departments and agencies.
- For officials within the Bureau of Prisons to allow legislators access to evaluate their operation.
- For federal agencies to respect the responsibility Congress has to account for government-run programs and departments.
Sources: AP, Journal Inquirer
