U.S. Sen. Ossoff leads subcommittee investigation of Atlanta federal prison

July 21st, 2022

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., speaks at a joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, in February 2021.

Andrew Harnik / AP Photo

A U.S. Senate subcommittee led by U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia is investigating reported security lapses at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta.

The subcommittee announced this week it has subpoenaed outgoing Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal to testify on July 26 after the Department of Justice refused to make him available voluntarily.

The Justice Department released a statement saying that Carvajal is preparing to step down next month and focused on making the transition in leadership.

Carvajal announced in January that he was resigning after revelations of high rates of coronavirus among inmates and allegations of corruption and abuse.

The Justice Department announced last week it was replacing Carvajal with Colette Peters, the director of Oregon’s prison system.

Ossoff joined “Morning Edition” to talk about what’s next in the investigation, as well as about a new initiative to make Morris Brown College eligible to receive military education benefits so as to make it accessible for more veterans.

But first, we heard his reaction to yesterday’s decision from the 11th circuit court of appeals, allowing Georgia’s 6 week abortion ban to take effect immediately.