VIDEO: Blackburn Highlights FBI Director Patel’s Success in Making Memphis Safe Again

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to highlight the success of Operation Viper in Memphis, Tennessee, which resulted in 500 arrests and 100 indictments of violent gang members. Yesterday, Senator Blackburn joined Director Patel and President Trump at the White House for the announcement of the "Memphis Safe Task Force," which will combat violent crime in Memphis to restore law and order. Senator Blackburn praised Director Patel and President Trump for answering her calls to do whatever it takes to Make Memphis Safe Again.

Click here to download video of Senator Blackburn's remarks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Blackburn on Success of FBI's Operation Viper in Memphis:

"I want to thank you for your commitment to fight violent crime in Memphis. When you first came to meet with me, before your hearing here, I gave you the stats on Memphis, Tennessee and their crime rates, and then you committed then and again at your confirmation to help us, you have been true to your word, and we are very, very grateful. Operation Viper has been such a success, the 500 arrests are important. These are gang members and gang leaders… There are over 100 gangs in Memphis. So, the impact of these arrests, the impact of 100 indictments of these gang members, and now we have a U.S. Attorney's office that will actually prosecute violent crimes and actually take up and prosecute federal gun crimes. This is helping to Make Memphis Safe Again."

Blackburn on Critical Partnership Between Federal and Local Law Enforcement in Infiltrating Criminal Networks in Memphis:

"[Director Patel], you mentioned something very important. Your agents go in, and they go in quietly. There was no press conference, there was no fanfare. You went in there to work, and very importantly, you gathered the intel. Who are these gang leaders? Where are they figuring out who was doing what and then setting up the process to apprehend these individuals… As I have talked with elected leaders in Shelby County and Memphis, as we have talked with those in law enforcement, they have been so grateful to have this support and this additional education that comes because local police are learning from your agents. They are learning how to track these gangs and infiltrate these networks. We know that phase two of this operation is going to kick off. The Guard is going to be there to support the Memphis Police Department, to help them kind of catch up because they still have a lot of people on their board. They know who they are, where they are, what they're doing. They want to apprehend them and bring them forward."

RELATED

• VIDEO: Blackburn Joins President Trump at White House for Announcement of "Memphis Safe Task Force" to Combat Crime

• Blackburn Applauds President Trump's Decision to Send National Guard to Memphis

• Blackburn, Cornyn Introduce Bills to End Cashless Bail in D.C. and Nationwide

• VIDEO: Blackburn Praises Trump's D.C. Crime Crackdown

• ICYMI: Blackburn Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Preventing Juvenile Crime in Memphis