WASHINGTON — A congressional hearing on whether inmates are being radicalized in U.S. prisons erupted in bipartisan anger Wednesday, with Democrats charging it unfairly targeted Muslims and the Republican committee chairman vowing to continue investigating what he views as threats to national security.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., has been the focus of months of criticism since the first hearing of his House Homeland Security Committee in March on the radicalization of U.S. Muslims.
Wednesday’s second hearing centered on whether inmates in U.S. prisons are being radicalized by Muslim chaplains and others for future terror attacks.
Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif., said Latino, Asian and African-American gang members often leave prison more violent — an argument she and Democratic colleagues used to say that the hearings unfairly singled out Muslims.
King said “dozens” of Muslims were radicalized behind bars, including James Cromitie, who was convicted last fall of planning to attack Jewish targets in New York and shoot down U.S. military planes.
King also mentioned Jose Padilla, the “dirty bomber” from Chicago, who converted to Islam in a Florida jail, and Kevin James, who formed a radical group at Folsom Prison in California.
“The threat is real,” King said, “and it is rising.”
Michael Downing, commanding officer of the Los Angeles Police Department’s counter terrorism bureau, said that in the seven-county region of Southern California, police receive 15 to 20 reports a month of prisoners being radicalized.
“They do develop into open cases, which is of great concern,” he said.
Under questioning from Democrats, Downing conceded there are 60,000 gang members in Los Angeles County from 400 gangs, many of whom are violent and territorial. Pressed by Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif., Downing said he didn’t know of any gang members who had an ideology dedicated to the destruction of the United States.
