Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: In the first ever participation of an FBI Director to a National Indian Nations Conference, James Comey pledged the Bureau’s commitment to addressing violent crime in tribal communities.

Director James Comey: This will be a priority of the FBI under my stewardship, and we will get better.

Halpern: Homicide, child sexual abuse, and other violent crimes are significantly higher on Indian reservations than the national average. The FBI is responsible for investigating violent crime on 212 Indian reservations, but only about half that number of special agents are available to work those cases. Comey says that’s not enough, and he has asked employees…

Comey: …to come to me with proposals detailing: What additional resources would you need? What do you need in terms of people? What do you need in terms of equipment? What do you need in terms of training? I can’t do everything, but I know that I can do better. Within a world of limited budget resources, show me the path toward greatness.

Halpern: To learn more about the FBI’s role with Indian Country, visit www.fbi.gov.

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