Congresswoman Norma Torres Statement in Response to GAO Report on Misuse of U.S. Resources in Northern Triangle Countries
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement in response to a new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on how equipment provided by the Department of Defense and State Department has been misused in Northern Triangle Countries – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras:
"I am appalled by today's GAO report, which provides unequivocal evidence that the Guatemalan government grossly misused military Jeeps provided by the United States on multiple occasions, including using them to intimidate American embassy officials. It is even more outrageous that GAO determined the Departments of Defense and State had no and still have not put any policies in place to accurately record and respond to the misuse of military equipment provided by the U.S. As a Member of Congress, I have fought to place restrictions on the transfer of military equipment, and considering today's news, it is clear work remains to ensure better oversight of transfers to nations with a long history of abuse and crimes against its own people like Guatemala."