On Wednesday, all Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee wrote to FBI Secretary Christopher A. Wray, led by ranking member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, about what they call a “troublesome attempt.” Notified about their ongoing investigation. Republicans and the White House “use the heavy hands of federal law enforcement agencies” to target their parents.
“The Attorney General has instructed you and all US Attorney Generals offices to take action to deal with parents attending school board meetings,” they write. “This unusual directive applies to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is particularly worrisome given the FBI’s illegal espionage against the Trump campaign and its scandalous history of fraud and politics.”
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan will speak at a press conference in Washington, DC on July 21, 2021.
(Anna Money Maker / Getty Images)
Republicans secure Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) guarantees against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in an effort to investigate whether the campaign was in conflict with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election He mentioned the work of the FBI.
Garland has not instructed the FBI to obtain a FISA warrant for its parents.
Last month, the Attorney General sent a note to the FBI, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, and the DOJ’s Criminal Division, where authorities identified and “prosecuted” the school board’s threat to teachers “using their powers and resources.” I notified the authorities. “If necessary”
FBI Secretary Christopher Ray testifies before a surveillance hearing of the House Judiciary Committee at Capitol Hill on Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo / Manuel Barse Seneta)
According to Garland’s memo, the FBI has partnered with local law enforcement agencies and US lawyers to convene meetings with federal, state, provincial, tribal, and territorial leaders in each federal district within 30 days. increase. “We will facilitate discussions on strategies for addressing threats to school managers, board members, teachers and staff, and open a dedicated communication line for threat reporting, assessment and response,” Garland said. Said.
The memo also announced that the FBI’s involvement would help “determine how federal investigations could be used to prosecute these crimes.”
This memo was sent by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) in a letter to Garland, citing cases that included non-violent behavior without intimidation but were deemed destructive. The NSBA called for the use of measures, including the Patriot Act, which are normally used to combat terrorism. Their second letter stated that “some languages had no justification” and “regrets and apologizes for the letter” they used.
“Parents concerned about expressing strong opposition to the controversial curriculum at local schools are not domestic terrorists,” Republicans wrote to Ray Wednesday. “Parents have a clear right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.”
However, they said that if their parents “crossed the line to commit violence or commit criminal intimidation, the state and local governments would be equipped with the best equipment to deal with these violations of state law. I have. “
Republicans sought an answer as to whether the meeting between the Department of Justice and FBI officials and local and state leaders was “in progress,” contacted all documents related to the meeting, and Ray was in the FBI region. We asked the local office to explain whether the guidance was issued. They also sought all formal and informal recommendations presented at the meeting.
The Republican Party also asked the FBI to explain whether Garland’s directives would be considered “legal” and whether Ray would instruct FBI agents and employees to “enforce” the directives.
The letter was signed by Jordan and Republican lawmakers. Steve Chabot, Loei Gomart, Darrell Issa, Ken Back, Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Andy Biggs, Tom McClintock, W. Gregory Stube, Tom Tiffany, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Dan Bishop, Michelle Fishbach, Victoria Spartans, Scott Fitzgerald, Cliff Bentz, Burgess Owens.