Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota Judge Dan Traynor’s ruling denying the United States Attorney General’s motion for Partial Summary Judgment seeking to prevent North Dakota from claiming damages from the federal government as a result of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests:
“Congratulations to Attorney General Stenehjem on a job very well done. Of course, it’s not over. However, Judge Traynor’s ruling is a really big victory for North Dakota. All I would say is at this point it would be a really good time – since they haven’t for the last several years – for the Department of Justice and the Attorney General of the United States to pay the tab.
“It is the negligence of the Obama White House and the Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department at the time that led to these riots and this upheaval that had to be policed. The State of North Dakota had to bear the cost of tens of millions of dollars to bring in outside police forces and police officers to keep the people safe in our state. For whatever reason, the Obama White House wouldn’t feel the obligation, the Trump White House didn’t feel the obligation, nor has the Biden White House. Now, the obligation is clear and the course is set for trial. Let’s spare the people, the public, and the taxpayers of this country a long, drawn-out trial and just do the right thing.
“Now, if the Attorney General of the United States doesn’t want to do the right thing, then bring it on. Let’s have a trial. Let’s get to discovery. Let’s subpoena the statements and the memos and the correspondence from the Obama White House, the Department of the Interior, United States Army, and the Department of Justice throughout these years. We are glad to go on that expedition to prove our case and make sure the people of North Dakota are reimbursed fully because of the negligence of the federal government.”