Steve Cohen Questions Kash Patel on National Guard Deployment in Memphis Crime Crackdown

Operation Viper and Federal Support in Memphis

• 💡 Operation Viper was initiated by FBI Director Kash Patel to assist Memphis police in combating crime, involving the FBI, DEA, and ATF.
• ✅ Phase one focused on FBI and local law enforcement collaboration, which was deemed helpful by Memphis officials.
• 🎯 The operation has resulted in 500 arrests and 110 federal indictments in Memphis.

Need for National Guard Deployment

• ⚠️ Patel argues that the National Guard is necessary to secure areas where criminal activity is occurring and to provide manpower for agents to safely enter volatile zones.
• ⚡ The FBI, DEA, ATF, and US Marshals require safe perimeters, which they believe the National Guard can establish, similar to their role in Washington D.C.
• ❓ Cohen questions the effectiveness and necessity of the National Guard, noting they are not trained in law enforcement and expressing concern about their potential impact on Memphis's image.

Crime Statistics and Legal Matters

• 📈 Patel states that homicide rates in Memphis are at an all-time low in modern recorded U.S. history, with FBI stats going back about 30 years.
• ⚖️ Regarding the Estring case, Patel indicated that to his knowledge, no victims have contacted his office with new information, but the FBI is publicly asking for such information.
• ❓ There is a discussion about statutes of limitations on sex crimes, with Patel believing there is no statute of limitations on sex with a minor or rape.

FBI Operations and Personnel

• 🚫 Patel could not provide a number for FBI agents fired in relation to the January 6th case but stated that individuals he has led have not been terminated for case assignments.
• 🤝 Cohen commends Patel's work in Memphis and suggests he connect with Kevin Kane from the Memphis tourism bureau.