Grassley demands answers from DEA on mistreatment of student

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) demanded answers from the Drug Enforcement Administration on the treatment of college student Daniel Chong, who was detained for five days without food or water.

On Wednesday, Grassley sent a letter to DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart requesting more information about the incident that happened two years ago.

{mosads}“The American people still do not know the full details about Mr. Chong’s mistreatment and abuse,” Grassley wrote. “And despite this inexcusable behavior and long-overdue findings, the American people still have no idea whether these agents and administrators are still working for the DEA.”

Grassley’s comments came after the release of the Office of the Inspector General report, which Grassley said “raises even more questions” than it answers.

“Not only were there specific failures by specific agents and employees that led to Mr. Chong’s brutal captivity, as well as a possible attempted cover up by senior DEA officials, but the entire system itself was set up to fail and forestall any future review,” Grassley wrote. “This is wholly unacceptable.”

Chong agreed to drop his lawsuit against the DEA, after they paid him $4.1 million. 

Grassley requested that Leonhart respond to nearly 20 questions, such as where the DEA got the $4.1 million for the settlement, by Sept. 27.