Washington, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, and Rep. Glenn Grothman, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III demanding information about the January 5, 2020, terrorist attack against U.S. personnel at Cooperative Security Location Manda Bay, Kenya, which resulted in the deaths of three American citizens: U.S. Army Specialist Henry J. Mayfield, Jr. and DOD contractors Bruce Triplett and Dustin Harrison.
“It is simply unacceptable for the Department to withhold information from Congress about a terrorist attack that killed three American citizens,” the Members wrote. “Congress has a solemn constitutional duty to conduct oversight of U.S. military operations, including and especially when a terrorist attack claims the lives of American citizens overseas.”
Following the attack, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) initiated an Army Regulation (AR) 15-6 investigation, which was completed in April 2021. However, DOD has refused to produce the investigation report to the Subcommittee, citing an ongoing independent review, which was directed by Secretary of Defense Austin and is being led by General Paul E. Funk.
This bipartisan letter marks the third time the Subcommittee has asked the Department to provide information about the January 2020 attack. Chairman Lynch and former Ranking Member Hice sent an initial letter to DOD in February 2020 and Chairman Lynch and Ranking Member Grothman renewed the Subcommittee’s request in April 2021.
The Members asked DOD to provide the Army’s AR 15-6 investigation report by August 13, 2021, and the findings of General Funk’s independent review when it is completed. The Members also requested a briefing by September 30, 2021.
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