FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CRT

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1998

(202) 616-2777

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888

ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO CREATES TASK FORCE
TO COMBAT CLINIC VIOLENCE

Reno Announces $500,00 Reward in Fatal Shooting of Dr. Slepian

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno today established a national task force to coordinate the investigation of violence against women's health care clinics nationwide.

The National Task Force on Violence against Health Care Providers will work closely with local authorities and U.S. Attorneys investigating acts of violence against clinics, coordinate national investigative efforts, establish a central clearinghouse for all information related to clinic violence, identify at-risk clinics and develop ways to make those clinics more secure, and enhance law enforcement training.

As part of the national effort, Reno also directed all U.S. Attorneys to convene meetings of their already-existing local working groups on clinic violence to discuss efforts that may need to be taken within their communities.

"The recent attacks on health care providers confirm the need for a coordinated investigative approach," said Reno, noting the recent violence directed at health care providers, including the fatal shooting of Dr. Barnett Slepian two weeks ago. "Every woman has the constitutional right to reproductive health care, and no one should ever be able to impede that right through violence."

The task force will investigate violence against health care providers, focusing on any connections that may exist between individuals engaged in criminal conduct.

The task force will be led by Bill Lann Lee, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. It will be staffed by attorneys from the Civil Rights and Criminal Divisions and will also be comprised of law enforcement personnel from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Postal Service. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin will be represented on the task force by Assistant Secretary for Enforcement Elizabeth A. Bresee. Mr. Lee will consult with her concerning his oversight of the task force.

Today's announcement follows the October 23, murder of Dr. Slepian, who was fatally shot in the kitchen of his Amherst, New York home. Dr. Slepian's shooting followed four non-fatal shootings that took place in western New York and Canada over the last four years, including shootings in Vancouver, British Columbia in November 1994; Ancaster, Ontario (near Buffalo) in November 1995; Rochester, New York in October 1997; and, Winnipeg, Manitoba in November 1997.

In each of the shootings, the victim was a physician who performed abortions, the assailant used a similar weapon, and the victim was shot through a window while at home. On Wednesday, a warrant was issued for the arrest of an individual whom the Justice Department considers a material witness in the case.

In addition, Reno today also announced that the Justice Department is offering up to $500,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the fatal shooting.

Since at least January 1998, a joint Canadian-American Task Force, named "Project Equality," has been investigating the four non-fatal shootings.

In addition to the shootings, between May and July of this year, about 20 health care clinics in three states were splattered with isobutyric acid, and two clinics in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area were the victims of arsons and attempted bombings. Just last weekend, clinics in Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas and Kentucky received letters that falsely claimed to contain anthrax.

Investigations into these incidents are being conducted by the FBI, the ATF, and state and local law enforcement, either individually or by joint federal/state task forces.

In 1994, a similar task force was established to investigate whether a national conspiracy existed. While it developed several successful criminal cases, it did not develop sufficient evidence upon which to prosecute a national conspiracy. In 1996, the task force was phased out and the Civil Rights Division continued the work of prosecuting clinic violence cases. In addition, local working groups, that were created and lead by U.S. Attorneys, remained intact.

Since 1994, when President Clinton signed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), the Justice Department has brought 27 criminal cases and 17 civil cases.

The new task force will establish a centralized clearinghouse of information pertaining to clinic violence and create a structure by which prosecutors can analyze and investigate nationwide trends in clinic violence.

In addition, today's task force will:

assist local officials in the investigation and prosecution of clinic violence;

coordinate a national investigative effort, focusing on connections that may exist between individuals involved in criminal conduct;

make security recommendations to enhance the safety and protection of providers;

assist the work of the U.S. Attorneys' local working groups on clinic violence;

coordinate the training of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on clinic-related violence; and,

coordinate the federal civil investigation and litigation of abortion-related violence.

No amount of effort could ever stop every individual intent on perpetrating violence, added Reno. But this Administration will take all appropriate measures to reduce the risk and prosecute those who engage in violence.

Individuals who have information about the shooting of Dr. Slepian should call 1-800-281-1184. .

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98-532

Attachment

Prosecuting Violence Against Healthcare Providers