The federal crackdown on polygamist crime

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on increasing coordination between state and federal governments concerning crimes associated polygamy. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said some crimes committed by fundamentalist polygamist groups are almost unspeakable. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) said the crimes include statutory rape, domestic abuse, and child abuse.

Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said these polygamist groups use a religious cloak to conceal their criminal behavior, their crimes going largely unchecked by government agencies. He called the communities participants in a form of organized crime. He said he introduced a polygamy task force bill to help stop “these lawless organizations.”

Brett Tolman, a United States Attorney for the District of Utah, said that aggressive efforts in his state pushed the groups across state lines and even into Canada and Mexico. He called the groups self-contained, extremely insular, and uncooperative. Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas, said better federal assistance and coordination could help track down and locate criminals, as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), the group committing the crimes, is highly mobile. Terry Goddard, Attorney General of Arizona, said the FLDS has thrived in their isolation, so overall cooperation between state, federal, and even international authorities is necessary to “prosecute to the end.”