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U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Congressman Mark Udall Congresswoman Diana DeGette |
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For Immediate
Release July 29, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Salazar Press Secretary 202-228-3630 (202) 226-7661 Josh Freed – DeGette Press Secretary 202-226-7824 |
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SEN. SALAZAR, REPS. UDALL AND DeGETTE “DISAPPOINTED”
BY REPORT FROM SECRET SERVICE ON CONCLUSION OF “ WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar, Congressman Mark Udall and Congresswoman Diana DeGette all expressed disappointment with a report received from the Secret Service regarding the investigation of the expulsion of three Coloradans from a White House Social Security event in Colorado in late March of this year. In a letter dated July 19, 2005 but only received on July 28, 2005, the Senator, Congressman and Congresswoman were informed by the Secret Service that the U.S. Attorney’s office had declined to file charges stemming from the investigation of the March incident. The Secret Service also declined to identify the individual who allegedly impersonated a Secret Service agent, citing privacy concerns. “I am disturbed by the fact that three people were not allowed to participate in a public meeting about the future of our Nation’s most successful social program – Social Security,” said Sen. Salazar. “As elected officials, we should be encouraging, not discouraging, public participation in open and thoughtful discussions on our Nation’s most important matters.” "It's puzzling that the Secret Service would take
five months to come up with nothing. Frankly, if the Secret
Service and White House have nothing to hide, and if no law was broken,
don't the American people have a right to know the results of the
investigation and who was responsible for ejecting the “Political debate in our nation has gotten too partisan and aggressive. We need to encourage people of differing viewpoints to listen to each other’s ideas,” said Rep. DeGette. “The removal of three Coloradoans from a public, taxpayer-funded Presidential event on Social Security does nothing to foster civil discussion. While I am disappointed that the White House continues to refuse to identify the person involved, I hope that they will at least make their events open to all Americans in the future.” On March 21, 2005, Coloradans Karen Bauer, Alex Young and
Leslie Weise were removed from a White House Social
Security town-hall meeting at Wings Over the Rockies in # # # |
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