Political Quotes

“I have requested this special order time to alert my colleagues and the country to the plight of a 20-year-old young lady from my district who has been incarcerated in inhumane conditions in Peru for one year this Thursday. One year after her arrest on September 25, 1996, Jennifer Davis has been denied due process of law, including a trial and sentencing, and she still has no idea when to expect a trial. Jennifer was arrested 1 year ago when she foolishly agreed to serve as a 'mule' in an increasingly common practice in Latin America in which gullible Americans are used to transport drugs into the United States in exchange for a free vacation and payment. In Jennifer's case, she was offered a free trip to Peru and $5,000 in exchange for carrying 3.3 kilograms of cocaine. I want to say at the outset that in no way do I condone or apologize for what Jennifer Davis did. As a Member of Congress, I have repeatedly stressed my belief that the abuse of drugs is one of the most pressing issues facing our country and it is one of the biggest problems facing young people of our country. What Jennifer did was inexcusable and she must be punished for her acts. Jennifer was 19 when she was arrested. She had never been in trouble with the law before and I believe her mistake was one of youthful indiscretion and poor judgment. She is not a professional drug runner but a teenage kid who made a big mistake.”