Grassley presses Bureau of Prisons director on whether U.S gave Mexico prison floor plan

Grassley asked Director Colette Peters if increased penalties would crack down on the misconduct in prisons after presenting his report.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: September 15, 2023 10:17am

Updated: September 15, 2023 10:33am

Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley demanded answers on whether the United States indeed followed through with an alleged commitment to provide drawings of an American correctional facility to Mexican officials with ties to cartels.

Grassley posed the question Thursday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters.

"A release of anything like that would be a serious security concern of the Federal Bureau of Prisons,” replied Peters, who also vowed to update Grassley after she further investigates the matter.

Grassley also urged the bureau to address alleged inmate-on-staff sexual misconduct and other problems in U.S. prisons.

Among the concerns are whistleblower allegations of abuse against incarcerated individuals, employee misconduct and document falsification at the Federal Correctional Complex Hazelton in West Virginia.

Grassley and Committee Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, are seeking information from the bureau and the Justice Department and calling for investigation into the allegations.