Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently delivered remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, highlighting the collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in combating violent crime.
Garland expressed his appreciation for being back in Idaho and acknowledged the presence of Elizabeth Prelogar, Solicitor General of the United States. "I have known Elizabeth for a very long time, since I was a judge and she was my law clerk," he said. He praised her as one of the most exceptional legal minds in the country.
In his speech, Garland emphasized the importance of partnerships with various law enforcement agencies. "When I became Attorney General three and a half years ago, I knew that the most powerful tool we would have in fighting violent crime all across the country was our partnerships with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies," he stated.
He noted that these partnerships have been strengthened through new technological tools to identify and target those responsible for violent crimes. According to Garland, these efforts are beginning to show results: murders in Idaho declined by 15% in 2023 compared to 2022. Nationally, there has been a significant decrease in violent crime rates over the past year.
Despite this progress, Garland acknowledged that challenges remain. "Progress is not even, and in many communities, it’s still not been reached," he said.
The Justice Department's initiatives include arresting violent felons, seizing guns used in crimes, disrupting drug trafficking operations, and prosecuting individuals involved in high levels of violence. Garland highlighted recent successes by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho:
- In July, a 10-year sentence was secured for a defendant involved in distributing over 7,000 fentanyl pills.
- In June, a 7-year sentence was given to an individual who sold lethal fentanyl pills resulting in a coworker's death.
- Earlier this spring, two traffickers distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl were prosecuted successfully.
The office also participates in Project Safe Neighborhoods aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. Notable cases include securing an 87-month sentence for a domestic abuser possessing untraceable firearms and another case where a man unlawfully trafficked firearms received a 7-year sentence.
Garland also mentioned thwarting an alleged terrorist attack planned by an individual swearing loyalty to ISIS thanks to coordinated efforts among various law enforcement agencies.
Concluding his remarks, Garland expressed pride in U.S. Attorney Hurwit and all members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication to keeping Idaho safe through robust partnerships with other law enforcement bodies.
With that acknowledgment of collective effort and success stories from ongoing initiatives against crime and terrorism threats within Idaho's jurisdiction, Garland proceeded to begin their meeting.