Bill Would Direct Contractor Civil Trials

Oct 03, 07:07 PM

Current Headlines: A bill that would bring contractors working overseas for the U.S. government under civilian court jurisdiction moved through Congress Wednesday.

The House of Representatives considered the measure, sponsored by Rep. Dave Price, D-N.C., which would provide contract employees working outside of the United States be subject to civilian courts for crimes punishable by more than one year in prison if that crime occurred in the United States. Currently, whether government contract employees can be prosecuted in civilian courts is unclear.

The bill also would require the Justice Department inspector general's office to report to Congress about its investigations of alleged crimes by contract employees as well as its effectiveness in prosecuting misconduct by contract personnel, according to the bill's caption.

The measure was heard the day after a House hearing on accountability and the necessity of private security firms in Iraq. One firm, Blackwater USA, is the focus of several investigations following a Sept. 16 incident in which Blackwater employees escorting a U.S. Embassy convoy shot and killed Iraqi citizens.

Blackwater issued a statement in support of Price's bill.

Blackwater USA is committed to, and supportive of, strong contractor accountability and transparency, the statement said.