White House and DHS exchanged messages regarding NSBA letter, records reveal.
EXCLUSIVE: Biden Administration Engages DHS in Response to School Board Threats
A senior official in the Biden White House reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for assistance in addressing concerns raised by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) regarding threats against school board members, according to internal emails obtained by government watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust.
The emails, which reveal communications between National Security Council Director for Counterterrorism Michael Massetti and DHS officials, shed light on the extent to which the Biden administration went to address the NSBA’s September 2021 letter.
Exploring Options and Seeking Assistance
In an email dated October 1, 2021, Massetti expressed his commitment to finding solutions and addressing the NSBA’s concerns. He inquired about any ongoing DHS programs or outreach efforts that could be utilized to assist with the issue at hand.
“While we recognize that this is primarily a state and local law enforcement matter, I wanted to check if you were aware of any DHS initiatives that could be of help,” Massetti wrote.
A significant portion of the email exchanges between DHS officials is redacted. However, Massetti reiterated his request on October 4, 2021, the same day Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a notable memo. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention Lucian Sikorskyj instructed the NSC official to contact him directly for further assistance, while Director of the Center for Prevention, Programs, and Partnerships John Picarelli provided Massetti with “three relevant responses” related to his inquiry. Unfortunately, the content of these responses remains undisclosed.
Controversial Letter and Government Response
The NSBA’s letter sparked controversy upon its release, as it likened parents protesting at school board meetings to domestic terrorists and called for the Department of Justice to investigate threats against school board members using federal anti-terrorism statutes.
Although the NSBA later retracted and apologized for the letter, Garland established a DOJ-FBI task force to investigate school board members. Whistleblowers from the FBI later revealed that the agency had scrutinized numerous parents who voiced their concerns at school board meetings as potential threats.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that the agency only provided publicly available resources to the National Security Council in response to their outreach.
“Upon receiving this request from the NSC, DHS personnel shared publicly available resources related to addressing threats of violence, as requested,” the spokesperson clarified.
Confirmation of Mobilization and Concerns
Michael Chamberlain, the director of Protect the Public’s Trust, emphasized that the newly released documents further substantiate the Biden administration’s mobilization of counterterrorism officials in response to the NSBA’s letter.
“Officials at the highest levels of the administration have long denied any association between parents’ protests at school board meetings and domestic terrorism,” Chamberlain stated. “Now, we have confirmation that the NSBA’s letter prompted the administration to involve top counterterrorism officials from the National Security Council and Department of Homeland Security. Not only does this raise concerns about gaslighting and obfuscation, but it also raises questions about potential infringement on the First Amendment rights of parents who simply wanted the best for their children.”
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