Republican Attorney General Sues Biden Administration Over Alleged Purchase of Crack Pipes with Taxpayer Dollars
Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration for failing to provide evidence that taxpayer dollars are not being used to purchase crack pipes for drug addicts.
Moody has asked a federal court to compel the Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to comply with outstanding Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for documentation related to possible federal grant funds used to promote drug use through Safe Smoking Kits.
Some of those kits reportedly included crack pipes and other drug-related paraphernalia, even though the Biden administration has denied the use of crack pipes in these kits.
According to federal statute, the agencies were required to respond within 20 working days of receipt, and that deadline was March 10, 2022. Moody claims that the agencies have so far refused to provide any requested documentation, prompting her to take legal action.
She stated, “If Biden is using your tax dollars to buy crack pipes for drug addicts, you have the right to know. Our country is in the grips of a drug overdose crisis, and the Biden administration is stonewalling our requests and keeping the public in the dark about so many misguided, reckless policies. We are taking them to court to get answers for the American people.”
In February 2022, President Biden announced a $30 million federal grant program that would reimburse local governments and entities that provide safe “smoking kits,” in the name of advancing racial equity and safer drug use for addicts. The grant document references Biden’s executive order 13985 titled “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.”
The White House and HHS repeatedly denied that crack pipes would be distributed on the taxpayer dime, but the Beacon subsequently reported that harm-reduction organizations in five East Coast cities all included crack pipes in their so-called safe smoking kits.
Moody’s lawsuit has gained national attention as it seeks to bring transparency to the use of taxpayer dollars and drug policy.
Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for what they see as misguided policies on drug addiction and harm reduction, while Democrats have argued that the grants are aimed at promoting safer drug use and reducing harm.
