Sen. Maggie Hassan is investigating the federal government’s purchase of a shuttered Minnesota detention facility for about $496 million, a transaction she said raises questions about the use of taxpayer money.
Hassan sent letters Thursday to the Department of Homeland Security and CoreCivic, the private prison company that sold the Prairie Correctional Facility to the federal government. The letters asked the department and company to preserve records connected to the August sale, according to details released Friday.
The facility in Appleton, Minnesota, has capacity for 1,600 detainees. CoreCivic reportedly approached Minnesota officials last year about purchasing the closed prison for $75 million, but the state declined. The federal purchase price was about $496 million.
Questions about the purchase
Hassan wrote that the difference between the earlier proposed price and the federal purchase price warranted scrutiny. She also raised the possibility of improper influence and corruption in the transaction.
“The transaction raises additional concerns about DHS stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
CoreCivic has previously said the Department of Homeland Security bought the facility after an appraisal determined its “fair market value.” The company did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, according to the published account.
Hassan is expected to lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in January as congressional Democrats prepare to take control after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The committee has jurisdiction over federal government operations and homeland security matters.
A broader congressional inquiry
The Minnesota facility is one part of a broader investigative agenda Democrats have outlined around President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the Department of Homeland Security. The areas under consideration include allegations of misconduct by immigration officers, the detention of lawful residents and citizens, deaths in immigration detention centers, National Guard deployments in cities and the handling of federal spending and contracts.
Hassan also cited a recent government watchdog review that found U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expanded detention capacity without a plan. The review said millions of dollars were wasted after many of the projects were later scaled back.
- Facility: Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota.
- Capacity: Up to 1,600 detainees.
- Prices cited: $75 million proposed state purchase and about $496 million federal purchase.
CoreCivic operates correctional and reentry facilities nationwide. The company has said the federal government’s purchase reflected the facility’s appraised fair-market value, while Hassan’s letters seek records that could help congressional investigators examine how the transaction was evaluated and approved.
