CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is calling upon President Joe Biden to nominate federal prosecutors for West Virginia who will tackle fentanyl trafficking in a cooperative, bipartisan manner.
Morrisey's letter, sent last week, stresses what he calls the importance of Biden's choice of U.S. Attorneys in the state’s northern and southern districts. During normal times, the Attorney General wrote those positions are important, but now they are critical as the state faces a crisis related to the trafficking of illegal fentanyl.
“West Virginians have fought this battle for years, but the illegal distribution and sale of fentanyl has recently increased dramatically, with devastating and deadly results,” Morrisey wrote. “We cannot tackle this crisis alone, and I ask that the federal government show its commitment to protecting the people of West Virginia and states like her that are struggling under the weight of this unprecedented illegal overdose crisis.
“This is not a policy issue or a talking point for my state and her people. Lives are at stake, and we must take action to change the situation, together. It is my hope that United States Attorney nominees will recognize the severity of the situation and put aside any other policy differences in combating the crisis."
In the letter, Morrisey asked Biden to put forth nominees who are willing to work closely with state and local law enforcement. He said collaboration and teamwork are central to any strategy in confronting the state’s fentanyl epidemic.
In demonstrating such collaboration, Morrisey pledged to work with the incoming U.S. Attorneys and said he believes other leaders will do the same. He added that the people of West Virginia are determined to rally together against illegal fentanyl trafficking as the issue affects everyone in the state.