Video: Blumenthal Secures Commitment from Trump Department of Justice Nominee to Release Millions in Withheld Funding to Help Trafficking Survivors

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today pressed Arthur Kleinschmidt, nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, on the approximately $190 million in anti-human trafficking grant funding that has lapsed under the Trump Administration and the over $130 million that the Trump Administration has failed to award to replace it. If confirmed, Kleinschmidt would head the Department of Justice’s principal grantmaking office, the Office of Justice Programs, which oversees these funds. Blumenthal yesterday released a report revealing that the Trump Administration has failed to award approximately $133.5 million in anti-human trafficking grant funding—about 75 percent of what Congress has appropriated for the last two years—forcing programs that support trafficking victims to shut down or dramatically reduce their services. During their exchange, Blumenthal secured a commitment from Kleinschmidt that, if confirmed, he will release all the currently withheld funds to combat the scourge of human trafficking. “You must be aware that the Trump Administration has allowed about $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants to lapse, and it has withheld about 75% of money appropriated by the United States Congress for groups that aid victims of human trafficking. It is about $130 million that should be going to support human trafficking survivors and strengthen law enforcement's ability to fight trafficking crime,” said Blumenthal. “Will you commit, if confirmed, to release all of the anti-trafficking funds currently withheld by the Trump Administration?” “I am going work diligently to get these resources from the Office of Justice Programs,” answered Kleinschmidt. “Is that a yes, you will release the money?” pressed Blumenthal. “I'm going to be committed to addressing and getting the funds to those Americans who need them the most, yes sir. I’m going to work and do and follow all the stipulations and guidelines to get our taxpayer dollars—be a good shepherd of the taxpayer dollars—to get those resources, human trafficking victims and other victims of crime, to ensure that Americans stay safe.” said Kleinschmidt. “I'm going to take that as a yes, that you will release the money. I'm going to hold you to it. I think our United States Congress should hold you to it because human trafficking is a scourge, and the victims deserve all of the money and more that Congress has appropriated for this purpose,” said Blumenthal. A video of Blumenthal’s round of questioning can be found here , and a transcript can be found below. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Let's see if we can get maybe some original answers. Mr. Adkisson, who won the 2020 election? Samuel Adkisson: Senator Blumenthal, Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election. Blumenthal: Let’s go right down the panel. If you're going to answer the same way, just say ditto. Phil Axt: I’d agree with that answer, Senator. Brad Kelley: Ditto, Senator. Arthur Kleinschmidt: Yes, sir. Ditto. Blumenthal: And was the Capitol attacked on January 6, 2021? Adkisson: Senator, there were acts of violence, lawlessness, trespass, and destruction of property that day. Blumenthal: But you are not willing to say the Capitol was attacked? Adkisson: Senator, again, I condemn the acts of violence, lawlessness, trespass and destruction of property that day. Blumenthal: Mr. Axt, ditto? Axt: Senator, I would just add that whether the events that day are characterized as an attack could have legal ramifications. Blumenthal: So that is a ditto, correct? Axt: Senator, I condemn the acts of violence on that day. Blumenthal: Mr. Kelley? Kelley: Ditto, Senator. Blumenthal: Dr. Kleinschmidt? Kleinschmidt: Yes, sir. Ditto. Blumenthal: Ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto. That is where we are on the United States District Court. Dr. Kleinschmidt, do you agree with President Trump that human trafficking is a “scourge?” Kleinschmidt: Senator, I have had human trafficking victims on my caseload over my career, so I'm very much in favor of whatever we can do to eradicate human trafficking. Blumenthal: And do you agree with President Trump that it is a scourge? That’s the word he used. Do you agree or not? Kleinschmidt: I'm unsure, to be honest. Blumenthal: You’re unsure whether it’s a scourge? Kleinschmidt: I'm not sure what the parameters of the word scourge is. Blumenthal: Is it a bad thing? Is it an evil? Kleinschmidt: Yes, sir. Blumenthal: Okay. So, let me ask you, you must be aware that the Trump Administration has allowed about $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants to lapse, and it has withheld about 75% of money appropriated by the United States Congress for groups that aid victims of human trafficking. It is about $130 million that should be going to support human trafficking survivors and strengthen law enforcement's ability to fight trafficking crime, which President Trump has called a “scourge,” and you agree that it’s a bad thing. Kleinschmidt: Well, Senator, if I'm confirmed, I am going to follow all federal laws regarding grant implementation. I very much take serious the victims of human trafficking. Blumenthal: Well let me ask the question, if you don't mind, before you provide an answer. The question is, will you commit, if confirmed, to release all of the anti-trafficking funds currently withheld by the Trump Administration? Yes or no? Kleinschmidt: Senator, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you a second ago. I am going work diligently to get these resources from the Office of Justice Programs. Blumenthal: Is that a yes, you will release the money? Kleinschmidt: I'm going to be committed to addressing and getting the funds to those Americans who need them the most, yes sir. Blumenthal: You know, you’ll “work diligently,” so the answer is yes. Would you agree with me, yes? Kleinschmidt: Yes, I’m going to work and do and follow all the stipulations and guidelines to get our taxpayer dollars—be a good shepherd of the taxpayer dollars—to get those resources, human trafficking victims and other victims of crime, to ensure that Americans stay safe. Blumenthal: I'm going to take that as a yes, that you will release the money. I'm going to hold you to it. I think our United States Congress should hold you to it because human trafficking is a scourge, and the victims deserve all of the money and more that Congress has appropriated for this purpose. You know, in your answers to Senator Kennedy talking about homelessness, you mentioned the criminal process. Do you think that homeless people should be arrested? Kleinschmidt: No, sir, but I do believe that we as an institution, local authorities, could be a benefit in helping and assisting individuals out of their pain and suffering. I'm not saying they need to be arrested, but I do believe that we do—as human-to-human—do better at providing intervention to get them from Point A, suffering in the street, to Point B, in treatment and into self-sufficiency. Blumenthal: So just to clarify, you would not favor arresting or prosecuting people? Kleinschmidt: I do not favor that, but I do believe we could marshal resources in a fashion that will help people get the services that they need. Blumenthal: You might not favor it, but local authorities should be permitted to arrest homeless people? Kleinschmidt: I feel like I wasn’t even referring to arrest. What I'm trying to say is, if you have resources in the community, we should use them to help Americans. Allowing somebody to suffer in blight isn’t something that I favor. Blumenthal: Noncriminal resources? Kleinschmidt: Well, noncriminal resources. And I don’t even mean—and I'm a person in long-term recovery, too. I’ve been around, I’ve been in my own addiction, I have been out there, so I know exactly, sort of, what I'm saying. I wouldn’t want to remove resources from individuals who are in need. If they are suffering in the street, I would like to help them. Blumenthal: So, if they are suffering in the street maybe they should be in jail, that’s a good place for them to be? Kleinschmidt: No, sir. Blumenthal: Okay, I just want to clarify in fairness to you. Kleinschmidt: So, what I'm saying is that they are suffering in the street, should we just let them be there? What I'm looking at is, who would actually be the resources? First responders on some level could be there as well. What I'm trying to say is, I believe these individuals need services, and they need Americans to, human-to-human, assist them, getting from Point A, the suffering in the streets to— Blumenthal: I’m out of time Mr. Chairman. Thank you. -30-