U.S. Department of Justice
Criminal Division

Mr. Luis Perez
Republican Presidential Task Force
Gardner Chapter No. 1010952
Post Office Box 466
Gardner, Massachusetts 01140

Dear Mr. Perez:

Your letter to President Bush, emphasizing that the laws of this Nation should be applied justly and consistently across the board, has been referred to me. You recognise the importance of combating violent and drug-related crimes, but point out that a major law enforcement effort should be directed toward white collar crime, as well.

Please understand that although the President would like to respond personally to all citizen correspondence, his extensive official duties prevent him from doing so. Since the Department of Justice deals with the criminal justice system, his staff sent your letter here for a response.

Commenting on the Department's recent budget request, Attorney General Dick Thornburgh observed, "Our 1992 request reflects the extension of President Bush's unwavering commitment to secure the right of every American to be free from crime. Particular emphasis is put on fighting drug-related and violent crime and on economic crimes, including the investigation and prosecution of those financial executives who left the American taxpayer with the tab for their excesses during the 1980s." I share these comments with you because I think they are particularly responsive to the concerns you have expressed, and they highlight a number of major initiatives undertaken by this Department.

As you know, a top priority is our continuing struggle with the national drug problem. In many cases, this effort is inexorably linked with our continuing efforts against violent and organised crime. Our approach to prosecuting drug traffickers generally goes well beyond the prosecution of violations of drug trafficking statutes to include prosecution for money laundering, tax evasion, firearms possession, and other criminal statutes, as well as the enforcement of civil penalties and tax collection. Similarly, white collar crime must be attacked on many fronts ranging from savings and loan fraud to public corruption.