Reservations a focus as DOJ adds staff in Eastern Washington

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington said last week that office has gotten funding to hire for seven new full-time assistant U.S. attorneys and two support staff “dedicated to combating terrorism, fraud, drug trafficking, and violent crime, including in Indian Country.”

U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref said in a release that the positions would be spread through the district’s three offices in Spokane, Yakima and Richland. The Department of Justice allocated the funding through last year’s federal budget.

“We’re especially grateful to have additional resources devoted to the important work we do in Indian Country, where we prosecute major crimes arising on the District’s four reservations – the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane Tribe, and the Kalispel Tribe,” Waldref said. “In fact, one of the AUSA positions is specifically devoted to cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. We recognize that indigenous communities suffer violence, especially domestic violence, at much higher rates than many other demographics. We are committed to addressing violent crimes in Indian country and elsewhere and holding perpetrators accountable.”

The new hires will bring the total number of assistant U.S. attorneys in the district to 40.

“This means that our team – which includes attorneys, critical support positions, administrative officers, victim witness advocates, forfeiture personnel, etc. – will grow to approximately 90 civil servants dedicated to DOJ’s mission to seek justice for all,” Waldreff said.