STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Attorney General John Ashcroft issued the following

statement regarding Inspector General Glenn Fine’s report on the matter

involving missing weapons and laptop computers within the Department of

Justice’s component agencies. Ashcroft requested the Inspector General’s

report in July 2001.

“The American people expect and deserve absolute accountability from public

officials. The Department of Justice’s component agencies are essential to the

success of the criminal justice system, and we place a high priority on

correcting any problems within these components. Last July, I asked Inspector

General Glenn Fine to determine where accountability has faltered, especially

relating to firearms and information technology resources, and to help the

Department design a way to keep this from recurring.

“The FBI is one agency that has already taken important steps to rectify

accounting systems for weapons and laptop computers. Through the FBI’s new

Security Division, there will be rigorous enforcement of accounting for

property and individual responsibility for lost property. Additionally, I am

also directing all of the Department’s component agencies to take specific

steps to ensure weapons and laptops computers do not fall into the wrong

hands.

“I thank the Inspector General for his hard work and diligence in producing

this report. The Department of Justice is committed to implementing necessary

reforms and policies, and these recommendations will be integral to this

effort. We will use this information to help build a more accountable,

responsible government to serve the American people.”