House Democrats Urge IG Investigation Into Malaysian Upgrade on State Trafficking Scale
Six House Democrats, led by Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, urged the State Department’s inspector general in recent days to investigate possible political motivations surrounding the upgrading of Malaysia on the department’s 2015 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. In late July, State eliminated an obstacle to concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Malaysia as a member by moving the country from tier 3 to tier 2 on its trafficking scale (see 1507270031). Trade Promotion Authority, now law, bars expedited consideration of trade agreements with tier 3 countries.
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In the Sept. 28 letter (here) to State Inspector General Steve Linick, the lawmakers didn’t mention TPP but asked for analysis on the following questions:
- Did any factors other than those provided under the [Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000] cause officials at the State Department to change the recommended status of Malaysia in the TIP report?
- Did the State Department fully comply with the requirements under the TVPA, as amended?
- Was the release of the 2015 TIP Report delayed due to any factors other than those provided under the TVPA?
- Was there any request by officials at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Commerce, or any other federal entity to influence or change Malaysia’s standing in the 2015 TIP Report?
The Malaysia government hasn’t taken serious action to address persistent trafficking problems, and the government even decreased convictions of offenders from 2013 to 2014, said the letter, citing a common criticism of the State decision. Reps. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., Brad Sherman, D-Calif., and Barbara Lee, D-Calif., also signed on. The upgrade created a furor on Capitol Hill. The letter’s signatories, along with more than 150 other House lawmakers, suggested in July the administration skewed its analysis of Malaysia in order to pave the way for a conclusion of TPP talks (see 1507200004).