Congresswoman McCollum Talks Lion Hunt, Biden In Presidential Race
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Within hours of the news that Cecil the Lion had been killed in Zimbabwe by a Minnesota dentist, Congresswoman Betty McCollum called for a federal investigation.
And an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also underway. Dr. Walter Palmer hired two guides for a big game hunt and is accused of poaching in the lion's death.
McCollum talked with WCCO's Esme Murphy about the incident and several other issues on WCCO Sunday Morning. It came after news broke of another lion's death in an illegal hunt by a second American back in April.
"I think the fact that there's another story just goes to show that the international community with the United States taking the lead on all this poaching, whether it's ivory, elephant, rhino, African lion, we need to really step and up and be a partner to make this kind of illegal hunting come to an end," McCollum said.
McCollum said officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service are looking closely into if any American laws were broken in Palmer's case.
"There's a whole wide array from possible conspiracy charges to people trying to bring the animal back in illegally, so they're looking into a whole range of issues on this," McCollum said. "They're taking this very seriously."
McCollum was also asked about the possibility of Vice President Joe Biden jumping into the next presidential race.