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Mar. 27, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid to revive polygamy crime bill

By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON — Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said this morning he plans to revive his drive to crack down on crimes committed within polygamous communities, and to help people seeking to leave plural marriage groups.

Reid said he planned to discuss the issue with Attorney General Eric Holder. While it has not been at the top of his agenda this year, Reid said there is an "obligation" to pursue it.

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    • "I personally believe these people who are doing this, many of them are doing things that are immoral and in many instances illegal," Reid said.

    There have been allegations of welfare fraud and abuse within such groups, Reid said. "We have an obligation to help these woman and children who are being victimized," he said.

    Reid, the Senate majority leader, said he was "ignored by the Bush folks" when he pushed a polygamy crime bill last year. "I think that is really too bad."

    "Nobody seems to be concerned about (bigamy) but it is against the law in every state," he said.

    Reid last year sponsored a bill to establish a federal task force on polygamist-related crimes.

    It also would have made available grants to local law enforcement agencies, and to social service organizations that help members who flee polygamous groups, sometimes with little more than the clothes on their backs.

    The idea of a federal task force drew mixed reaction. It was welcomed by state authorities who said they have been frustrated when investigative targets move freely around the country.

    But others questioned whether such a high profile approach might scare off potential cooperating witnesses in difficult investigations.

    While there are a handful of polygamous sects, most attention has been focused on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, an offshoot of the mainstream Mormon Church that is based in the adjoining towns of Hildale Utah, and Colorado City, R-Ariz.

    Church leaders have been accused of strong-arming their followers, controlling their finances and forcing young girls into sex and marriage.

    Church leader Warren Jeffs was convicted in September 2007 of two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in arranging marriages between his male followers and underage girls. He was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.

    At packed Senate Judiciary Committee last July, Reid testified polygamous sects are "a form of organized crime," largely unchecked by authorities.

    Reid's role in the issue drew even more attention since he is the most powerful Mormon church member in political Washington. He has said his actions are motivated by his personal faith, and not at the behest of church leaders.

    Spokesmen for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have said Reid and others were seeking to "demonize" their entire religion for the crimes of a few.

     

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    ThomasJ wrote on April 03, 2009 08:11 PM: Polygamy is legal is Saskatchewan Canada.. Leave these poor immigrants alone to have their Canadian multiple spouses,why have a law for Canduians and aother for immigrants.


    Jancis wrote on April 02, 2009 08:54 AM: In Canada, Saskatchewan a man went to court to argue that he had the constitutional right to NOT be the spouse of a person who already had a legal spouse in Canada. He lost and the judgge made his girlfriend his legal spouse while she remained married to another man! The Attorney General of that province even sent constitutional lawyers to argue that sasjatchewan legislation under section 51 of the Family Property Act superceeds Federal Polygamy ban.


    JeffR wrote on March 30, 2009 05:47 AM: Senator Reid might want to encourage the Polygamists to relocate to Canada. In that country, the Province of Saskatchewan encourages Polygamy, where any persons can have multiple same time spouses. Using Section 51 of their Family Property Act to define the word "spouse" for all their legislations, that province says a person can legally have numerous spouses under the law. Because Polygamy is governed in Canada by the Criminal Code there, the Federal law is ignored on a province by province basis with the individual provinces being able to decide whether to enforce or delete federal laws from the local laws. If the Polygamists all move to Canada, then Senator Reid can concentrate on kick-starting the economy, which might be time better spent.


    Salter wrote on March 29, 2009 05:31 PM: These Polygamous communities might just move to Canada, Saskatchewan, where Polygamy is legal.
    This state uses Section 51 of their Family Act to encourage Polygamy.


    Thomas wrote on March 27, 2009 09:24 PM: Once again the witchunt is on. I wonder if Senator Reid will his rarget to respond to hos baseless allegations. I wonder what the LDS menbers think about Senator Reid's witchunt. I wonder if these brave souls will speak up.


    Darrin wrote on March 27, 2009 04:34 PM: "Oh, please, please, please re-elect me..." it's pathetic, Harry.

    E VERIFY NOW!


    i don't want to have to re-write my book of mormon again wrote on March 27, 2009 02:28 PM:
    each time i get used to my new edition/ version of my book of mormon, the lds church makes another change to comply with facts that have been exposed/un-earthed.

    please stop editing and correcting my book of mormon.


    RonNV wrote on March 27, 2009 01:40 PM: Harry should concentrate 100% of his efforts on jump starting the Nevada economy. Does he really have the time to deal with this other stuff?


    Free Nevada wrote on March 27, 2009 01:38 PM: Do you suppose those people who come on and bash Sen Reid all the time are from FLDS? I always assumed they were primarily RNC ops who want to turn the Senate House Majority position into a Republican freshman position.


    Bible Reader wrote on March 27, 2009 01:10 PM: The 'mainstream' Bible is also pro-polygamy.

    It's also pro-slavery and very racist.


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