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Press Release Published: Apr 26, 2021

Comer Calls for Emergency Hearing on Mayor Bowser’s Universal Solitary Confinement of D.C. Inmates

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) wrote Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) calling for an emergency hearing on the inhumane treatment of D.C. inmates over the course of the pandemic. Last week, the Washington Post reported incarcerated residents are essentially in universal solitary confinement as they are confined to their cells for 23 hours a day. The result has had a severe effect on the inmates, including many sleeping at odd hours of the day, talking to themselves, others growing extensive beards and hair because the barber shop closed. Ranking Member Comer wrote District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser last week requesting a briefing, but she has not replied, and her administration has ignored the issue. 

“Due to the disturbing nature of this reporting—potentially a grave human rights abuse by the D.C. government—I expected Mayor Bowser to respond promptly to my request for information. However, she has ignored this issue, seemingly hoping it will simply go away. This morning, however, we learned that the D.C. government appears to have double downed on its alleged abuse of its inmates. . . In fact, a week after this reporting became public, D.C. officials have failed to even begin to plan how it will end this unprecedented and cruel treatment of its own residents,” wrote Comer. “The conduct of D.C.’s government in perpetuating these human rights abuses is unacceptable. Likewise, it is unacceptable that the Mayor continues to ignore all congressional inquiries. Therefore, I am requesting an emergency hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Reform to examine D.C.’s alleged human rights violations. Let us use the power of our Committee to shine a spotlight on, and bring an end to, these gross abuses that are happening right at our doorstep.”

The full letter is available here and below.

April 26, 2021

The Honorable Carolyn Maloney
Chairwoman
Committee on Oversight and Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairwoman Maloney:

Last week, I requested a briefing from Mayor Muriel Bowser about reporting that 1,500 people incarcerated in the District of Columbia (D.C.) jail have been subjected to over a year of COVID-19 lockdowns for 23 hours a day in their cells. As reported by the Washington Post, D.C.’s local incarcerated residents have grown beards and long hair due to being unable to visit a barber; sleep at odd hours due to their one hour per day outside of their cell—sometimes coming at 3 a.m.—and talk to themselves due to solitary confinement. Not until this month have inmates even been allowed outside.

Due to the disturbing nature of this reporting—potentially a grave human rights abuse by the D.C. government—I expected Mayor Bowser to respond promptly to my request for information. However, she has ignored this issue, seemingly hoping it will simply go away. This morning, however, we learned that the D.C. government appears to have double downed on its alleged abuse of its inmates. According to the Post, D.C. officials have said “they have no plans to relax the virtually around-the-clock confinement of 1,500 jail inmates to their cells[.]” In fact, a week after this reporting became public, D.C. officials have failed to even begin to plan how it will end this unprecedented and cruel treatment of its own residents.

The conduct of D.C.’s government in perpetuating these human rights abuses is unacceptable. Likewise, it is unacceptable that the Mayor continues to ignore all congressional inquiries. Therefore, I am requesting an emergency hearing before the Committee on Oversight and Reform to examine D.C.’s alleged human rights violations. Let us use the power of our Committee to shine a spotlight on, and bring an end to, these gross abuses that are happening right at our doorstep.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

James Comer
Ranking Member