Statement of United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. on COVID-19

Because of the impact of COVID-19, we are facing a time of uncertainty and change. Frequently, we fear these uncertainties and the anxiety they create. But ultimately, we face these challenges together. We persevere, joining together and uniting our resources to combat these fears. Our country has faced emergencies before, and we will in the future. Regardless of the challenges we face, we are always stronger together. In these situations, we must remain cognizant that our collective choices can have a long-term impact.

I want to reassure Kentuckians that, despite the many uncertainties they see, those of us employed in the criminal justice system are committed to ensuring that our system of justice continues – even in this time of national outbreak. I am grateful for the work performed by committed public servants, like our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level, at this trying time.        

Following the guidance of the Attorney General of the United States, the dedicated men and women who serve in my Office will continue to carry out the critical mission of the Department of Justice, while responsibly addressing the current public health concerns raised by the COVID-19 outbreak. Our obligation to protect the citizens of the Eastern District of Kentucky is not changed by the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Although we are not immune from the need to adjust our own routines –and we have temporarily adapted our operations to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the public we come into contact with – our offices in Lexington, London, and Ft. Mitchell remain open, and we continue to perform our core law enforcement function. We continue working in partnership with our federal, state, and local law enforcement colleagues to protect the public and enforce the law, including prosecuting violent crimes, serious drug trafficking offenses, and other matters.

Attorney General Barr has directed all U.S. Attorneys to make it a priority to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to the coronavirus.  There have been reports across the country of fraudulent activity surrounding COVID-19, including phishing emails from fraudsters posing as official health organizations. This conduct highlights the need for our steadfast focus on our mission and the drive to aggressively combat these incidents and prosecute the wrongdoers who are preying on us in our time of uncertainty and anxiety, purely seeking to profit from the dangers of the virus.

Through cooperation and determination, we will make it through this crisis and emerge stronger and more resilient. We are all in this together. We will make it through.