By Mark Moore
A group of Republican House members is demanding Attorney General Merrick Garland retract a memo directing the FBI to investigate threats against school officials — because the organization that prompted the directive has apologized, The Post has learned.
Garland released his memo on Oct. 4 after the National School Boards Association sent a letter to President Biden in late September voicing concerns about parents allegedly intimidating school board members, teachers and other school officials over issues from mask mandates to critical race theory teachings.
The NSBA letter characterized the protests as “domestic terrorism.”
But the NSBA board of directors on Friday said “we regret and apologize for the letter” that was co-signed by association CEO Chip Slaven and President Viola Garcia.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) noted the apology in the letter to Garland, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
“Because the NSBA letter was the basis for your memorandum and given that your memorandum has been and will continue to be read as threatening parents and chilling their protected First Amendment rights, the only responsible course of action is for you to fully and unequivocally withdraw your memorandum immediately,” Jordan wrote.
The letter was signed by a number of GOP members of Congress, including Reps. Darrell Issa of California, Louie Gohmert of Texas and Matt Gaetz of Florida.