Karen P. Tandy DEA Confirmation Hearing

In a hearing marked most by uneventfulness and lack of passion or
strong interest, the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned DEA
administrator nominee Karen P. Tandy. The hearing lasted no more than
30 minutes, and was attended only sparsely attended by the committee's
members.

There were never more than five members present, and for much of the
hearing only senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) were
present.

No difficult questions were asked, and at no time was Tandy pinned
down on a particular issue.

Sessions, a friend of Tandy, said she "has consistently shown great
capabilities [in getting the job done]."

Responding to a question from Sessions on what Tandy considered her
biggest challenges and goals, she stated that "after 9-11 the
redirection of resources placed the responsibility of drug enforcement
more squarely on the shoulders of the DEA than ever before," and
outlined four goals:

To ensure the protection of America and America's kids from drugs; To
ensure widespread sharing of information from the federal level to the
state and private sector level, which she claimed would ensure
"maximum impact" as "the most effective means of reducing the 63
billion dollar illicit drug industry in the US"; To dismantle the drug
trade industry, which she called key for the DEA; and To streamline
the DEA: "My pledge is if I am confirmed, I will ensure that those who
succeed [in the DEA]... are those who are promoted." Hatch then said
that "there is a direct correlation between drug trafficking and
terrorism," and asked how Tandy would respond, to which Tandy
answered, "DEA has constructed a priority targeting system" to address
threats within our borders and without, adding that she was
particularly concerned about targeting the money, because "it is the
money that funds this horrific preying on our children." Hatch, the
committee's chairman then gave a spiel about how Tandy and assistant
attorney general nominee Christopher Wray (also present at the
hearing) both are qualified candidates, and said "I'm sure that your
confirmation will pass in short order."

According to a bulletin distributed by the Marijuana Policy Project,
between three and five senators, including Dianne Feinstein (D-CA),
will be submitting written questions to Tandy, thereby forcing her to
put her views on medical marijuana on record.

Medical marijuana patient Suzanne Pfeil, who suffers from post-polio
syndrome, attended the hearing and waited to hand-deliver a letter.

Tandy attempted to sneak away through a back door instead of
approaching and speaking with Pfeil, but Pfeil chased Tandy down the
halls in her wheelchair and delivered her letter. (Visit
http://www.dontconfirm.org for pictures.)