Sens. Blumenthal, Graham Sign Letter Supporting Scott Hapgood

DARIEN, CT — Connecticut's United States Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, were joined by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jerry Moran, among others in signing a letter supporting Darien's Scott Hapgood in his Anguilla manslaughter case.

The letter, dated Nov. 4, is addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and asks him to help ensure Hapgood's safety as he prepares to travel to the Caribbean island for his latest court hearing, scheduled for Nov. 11.

Anguilla is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, and since the altercation between Hapgood and hotel worker Kenny Mitchel resulted in Mitchel's death, Hapgood has received death threats on the island. He has had to travel back to the island on numerous occasion since the April incident for various court appearances.

"We strongly urge the State Department to obtain from the British Government its ironclad guaranty of Mr. Hapgood's safety and security during his stay in Anguilla for any proceeding," the senators wrote. "Such guaranty should also ensure the proceedings are conducted in accordance with judicial tenets of fairness and due process of law, including his right to return to the United States after the inquest. Ultimately, the government of the United Kingdom bears this responsibility."

Hapgood has maintained that he acted in self-defense in the altercation, and in a recently released toxicology report, Mitchel had a lethal amount of cocaine in his system, which the medical examiner believes killed him.

In addition to Blumenthal, Murphy, Graham and Moran, other Senators to sign the letter were Robert Casey Jr. and Joe Manchin III. Congressman Jim Himes, who represents Hapgood's district, also signed the letter.

In a statement Tuesday, Hapgood and his wife, Kallie, thanked the Washington leaders for their support. Last month, Kallie Hapgood made a plea to President Donald Trump for assistance in the case.

"We remain grateful to Senator Blumenthal and his co-signatories, Senators Christopher Murphy, Jerry Moran, Lindsey O. Graham, Robert P. Casey Jr, Joe Manchin III and Congressman Jim Himes, for their efforts to secure safe passage for Scott," they said Tuesday. "Although we are all concerned about Scott’s safety in Anguilla, it is reassuring to have our government behind us in such a public and steadfast way."