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= + en ee eee “atdpe «athe a Wal gow surakennienh Aistees rite thy tiie Ties a coceiea Mear Alad Seite i ales aan os pene meine eb -- HARKEISOT SCHMITT " . & Exrcs * COMMITTT.T OM COMMERCE, . ‘ , SCIENCE, AND TRA! 'SFORTATION Wrnifea Slafes Seriafe ° COMMITTEE OF BANKING, HOUSING, AND CADAN AFFAINS WASHINGTON, 3.C. 20316 SELECT COMMITTEE ON LTHICS December 21, 1978 fy The Honorable Griffin B. Bell EV bee Nt ee tse ee ae | Attorney General . . Cr i Department of Justice - ce 4) : cr aa : 10th and Constitution Avenue, N.W. woes “tls mn H Waskingten, D.c. 20530 wee , f~ Ay y moa Dear Mr. Attorney General: oe * During the past several years, ranchers throughout the West including my home state of New Mexico, have been victimized by a series cf cattle mutilations. As a result, these ranchers have as a group and individually suffered serious economic iosses. e tat These mysterio: killings have been the subject of at least 5 two articles in national publications, copies of which are a 7S enclosed. Mr. Ceckburn's article in the December 1975 issué~ ~~, of Dsquire states that there had been a federal investigat{on-. o into this matter, out it was dropped. Mr. Cockburn implidS = x the investigation may have been terminated because cattle = = mitilation per se is not a federal offense. S While an individual cattle mutilation may not be a federal offense, Y am very concerned at what appears to be a continued pattern of an organized interstate criminal activitv. Therefore, T am requesting that the Justice Department re-examine its jurisdiction in this area with respect to the possible reopening of this investigation. . Enclosed are copies of my files on this subject. While awaiting what will hopefully be a favorable reply, I shall continue to gather materials that could be of help in such an investigation. Tf you need further information in studying this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Bw... ae Harrison Schmitt < ‘ Phi~h fu HS fri rECEIVED | Enclosures //~ | :. (23) pecegiva 1% ‘abl - S575 aS ie \i NE 1eB&ikrn EAE eek CRiiNAL DIVISION | /V CR BREE SEL AESSEVE 47 BPA EG (FP. reise TS i fea #