Attorney general defends relics raid

As Sen. Orrin Hatch roared that too much force was used in a federal raid to arrest 23 Utahns for Indian-relic theft, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday that officers were merely following standard operating procedure for felony arrests.

But during a regular Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Justice Department, Holder also expressed condolences to the family of Dr. James Redd, who committed suicide the day after he was arrested in the raid. Holder said he was sad if the raid contributed to it.

"Let me express my sympathy to the family," Holder said amid questioning by Hatch. "That is a very sad thing. And if it was related to this operation, it is something that saddens me. It is not something that we intended to have happen."

Hatch, R-Utah, responded that the suicide and reports of sending in 100 officers "in full combat gear" to make arrests last week for crimes that were nonviolent "has destroyed good feelings toward the government in that whole community" of Blanding and other southeastern Utah towns.

Holder said, "The arrests that were done were felony arrests. And as best I can tell, they were done in accordance with the FBI and Bureau of Land Management standard operating procedures."

He added, "When arrests are made, even in cases that seem to be nonviolent, there is always a danger for the law enforcement officer who is effecting that arrest," which is why officers go in well-armed.

Hatch interrupted and said, "But in this case, this is a doctor who everybody respected, everybody loved in the community … He was so overwrought by it, he took his life."

Hatch added, "You can bring all the force you want against drug dealers and people who clearly are violent felons, and where our people might be in danger. But in this case, there wasn't the slightest possibility anyone could have been in danger."

Holder responded, "We want to use the appropriate amount of force that is necessary. We also want to keep in mind the protection responsibility. I have to make sure that the lives of law enforcement officers engaged … ," and he was interrupted again by Hatch complaining about too much force.

Hatch also questioned whether the Justice and Interior Departments made the raid for political gain.