By Nicole Gonzales
KSL
July 24, 2008
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3842636
[with video]
Video - http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3842636
It's been decades since the issue of polygamy got this type of attention from Congress. But at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's request, the Senate Judiciary Committee met today to discuss the possibility of a federal investigation of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
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| Sen. Harry Reid |
Reid is proposing a task force, a federal-state partnership aimed at policing what he called the "lawless conduct of polygamous communities in the U.S." He says members of the FLDS group have "wrongfully cloaked themselves in the trappings of religion" to hide crimes like bigamy, child abuse and statutory rape.
"Witnesses at this hearing will describe a web of criminal conduct that includes welfare fraud, tax evasion, massive corruption and strong-arm tactics to maintain what they think is the status quo. These crimes are systematic, sophisticated and are frequently carried out across state lines," Reid said.
Members of the panel who testified before the Senate committee included a group of former polygamists, law enforcement officials, attorneys and authors.
Former polygamist Carolyn Jessop criticized the FLDS church for child abuse, control over law enforcement and welfare fraud. She said "bleeding the beast" means two things: FLDS members should avoid paying taxes at all costs and should also apply for every possible type of government assistance that is available.
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"I stand here today to ask the government, my government, to show up for FLDS children the same as it does with respects to all of its other citizens. This would not be religious persecution, just equal, equal enforcement of the law," Jessop said.
Former FLDS member and founder and director of Smiles for Diversity Daniel Fischer addressed the plight of the so-called "lost boys," who challenge leaders and are cast off. He also said girls face harsh consequences if they don't marry who they're told.
"If a young woman refuses to marry a man the prophet tells us to, she comes under extreme pressure. And if she chooses someone on her own, she may be branded with in essence the scarlet letter," Fischer said.
The congressional efforts come after a recent law enforcement crackdown in several states, including Utah, Arizona and Texas.
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| U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman |
On Tuesday, Texas became the latest state to file criminal charges against Warren Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs has already been convicted of being an accomplice to rape in Utah and awaits trial in Arizona on charges related to alleged underage marriages of girls in the sect.
Lawmakers and law enforcement officers from several states spoke, most agreeing with Reid's proposal. One exception was Utah's U.S. attorney Brett Tolman. He cautioned that a federal task force may be counterproductive after years of working to gain the trust of FLDS members.
FLDS members did not testify today, and they say Congress intentionally only asked for testimony from critics of the sect. In a letter to the committee, Salt Lake City attorney Rod Parker says it's unfortunate the panel will meet to discuss polygamy without allowing the subjects of the hearing to participate or respond.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
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