Bismarck (KFGO) - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is calling on all parties in the Dakota Access Pipeline dispute to avoid violence.
Lynch said federal mediators are being sent to protect the peace at Standing Rock. In a statement: "To that end, the Department of Justice has offered community policing resources to local law enforcement in North Dakota, and we have made strenuous efforts to open lines of communication and dialogue between law enforcement, tribal leaders and protesters. This includes the active engagement of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services – or COPS Office – and the deployment of conciliators from the Community Relations Service to North Dakota. Those efforts will continue in the days ahead.
"I have directed senior department officials from the Office of Tribal Justice, the COPS Office, the Community Relations Service and the local U.S. Attorney to continue to address concerns that have been raised; to re-deploy to the region as needed; and to help support constitutional law enforcement, prevent violence, and to preserve peace and liberty in the protest area.
In the statement issued late Friday, Lynch doesn't refer to an order for protesters to leave federal land by Monday. Authorities have said they won't physically enforce it.
Nor did she refer to her phone call to Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier. The sheriff said he appreciated the Attorney General reaching out "but neither assistance for law enforcement nor a timeline for resolution was offered." He urged fewer words and more action.
Sen. John Hoeven disputed Lynch's claim she's working with the state and its congressional delegation to find a resolution. He said the administration needs to provide more actual law enforcement personnel, not just advisers, and let construction resume.