Skip to main content

Williams challenges Attorney General Eric Holder on Fort Hood

April 4, 2014

Today, Congressman Roger Williams (RTX-25) challenged Attorney General Eric Holder on the administration's "workplace violence" designation of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. Although not a member of the Appropriations Committee, with the help of Congressman John Carter (RTX-31), Williams was granted time to speak before the subcommittee. Excerpts from Williams' opening statement are below. The full video can be seen here.

"The Pentagon labeled the 2009 attack as workplace violence – like a disgruntled employee taking out his anger on fellow coworkers, but the evidence and the trial proved otherwise…

"This Administration's workplace violence designation clearly favors political correctness over truth and justice…

"By labeling the attack workplace violence, the victims of this attack have been denied the benefits, treatment and awards their deployed counterparts receive when wounded or killed overseas. We should correct this injustice by awarding the military victims the Purple Heart medal and the civilian victims the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom. Both awards would provide combat-related special compensation and the benefits that have been withheld from them. It is my hope that the Department of Justice will thoroughly investigate yesterday's attack on Fort Hood."

Congressmen Williams and Carter both represent Fort Hood.

# # #

Issues:Military