Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination may not be gaining much momentum, but he stands out as an exceptional candidate. Unlike his party’s front-runners, Mr. Hutchinson has taken a stance against demonizing the FBI and has introduced substantive policy proposals to reform federal law enforcement. His experience running the Drug Enforcement Administration and overseeing border security under President George W. Bush, along with his background as a U.S. attorney and member of the House Judiciary Committee, make his ideas worthy of serious consideration.
One of Mr. Hutchinson’s recent proposals in Washington is to require FBI agents to record their interviews. He also suggests elevating the bureau’s Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties to a position independent from the general counsel, transferring drug enforcement responsibilities from the FBI to the DEA to allocate resources more efficiently, and reassigning various administrative support functions from the FBI to the Justice Department. Additionally, he aims to enhance transparency by granting congressional leaders greater access to information regarding searches conducted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as well as communications between law enforcement and social media platforms related to account takedowns.
While Mr. Hutchinson has called on Donald Trump to withdraw from the race due to federal and state indictments, he acknowledges that these charges have temporarily boosted the former president’s political standing. He criticizes Trump for politicizing the Justice Department and undermining the credibility of patriotic and professional law enforcement officers, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and rejecting the idea of defunding the FBI.
The former governor believes that a president may rightfully establish law enforcement priorities and discuss cases with the attorney general that have national security implications. However, he stresses the necessity for any White House to respect the independence of the Department of Justice in all other matters.
Moreover, Mr. Hutchinson proposes the establishment of a commission to examine the future of federal law enforcement. With over 90 federal agencies authorized to carry firearms and make arrests, such as the Postal Service, the National Park Service, and even the Agriculture Department, he suggests that this commission could identify efficiencies and reduce jurisdictional conflicts by clarifying which agencies have authority over specific areas.
None of Mr. Hutchinson’s proposals are radical, and Democrats would likely find common ground with most of his ideas. Unfortunately, he may not receive the 40,000 donations needed to qualify for the first GOP debate next month. However, if he does, he promises to challenge first-time candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has proposed unconventional ideas like firing over half the federal workforce and imposing an eight-year term limit on all government employees. Mr. Hutchinson argues that such actions would be unreasonable, considering the years of training required for DEA and FBI agents.
While Mr. Hutchinson may not always be on the mark, he does praise FBI Director Christopher A. Wray for addressing issues identified by the Justice Department’s inspector general. Nevertheless, he suggests that he would still likely replace him, stating that he wants a fresh FBI director. This may be what appeals to Republican primary voters, but FBI directors are confirmed to serve a 10-year term to safeguard the bureau’s independence. Therefore, Mr. Wray, who was appointed by Trump, should be allowed to continue until his term ends in 2027.
Overall, Mr. Hutchinson deserves a place in the GOP primary competition. The Editorial Board recognizes his background, experience, and thoughtful proposals for reforming federal law enforcement.
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