Reid calls polygamous communities 'organized crime'

Unlike the anti-polygamy crusades of the 1800s, the leader this time is a

Mormon: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. And he applauded the fact that

the hearing on crimes by polygamists came before the Judiciary Committee on

Pioneer Day.

"We do honor our pioneer ancestors by condemning those who have wrongfully

cloaked themselves in the trappings of religion to obscure their true criminal

purposes," Reid said, as the national media watched and national cable TV

carried it live.

"I am here to tell you that polygamist communities in the United States are a

form of organized crime," he said. "The most obvious crime being committed in

these communities is bigamy, child abuse — teen and pre-teen girls are forced to

marry older men and bear their children."

Reid said other crimes they commit include "welfare fraud, tax evasion,

massive corruption and strong-arm tactics to maintain what they think are the

status quo. These crimes are systematic, sophisticated and are frequently

carried out across state lines."

Reid said such groups have spread literally across North America. "States

need help. They are on the front line of this fight, and it is a fight," he

said. He filed a bill on Wednesday to create a federal task force to coordinate

investigation of crimes committed by polygamous groups — an idea Reid said he