{"id":1020784,"date":"2021-11-16T19:28:50","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T00:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1020784"},"modified":"2021-11-16T19:28:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T00:28:52","slug":"house-republicans-reveal-whistleblower-documents-exposing-fbi-use-of-counterterrorism-tactics-against-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-reveal-whistleblower-documents-exposing-fbi-use-of-counterterrorism-tactics-against-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"House Republicans Reveal Whistleblower Documents Exposing FBI Use of Counterterrorism Tactics Against Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-republicans-reveal-whistleblower-documents-exposing-fbi-use-of-counterterrorism-tactics-against-parents%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1020784&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Merrick-Garland-closeup-DOJ-mask-getty-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">A letter from Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland reveals the lawmakers have received documents from a whistleblower that state the FBI is using counterterrorism tactics to investigate parents considered to be potential \u201cdomestic terrorists\u201d as they voice concerns about education in their local school districts.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"9.5377643504532\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">An FBI agent provided a copy of the internal email to several Republican lawmakers, citing concerns that it could open the door for the bureau to collect information on parents voicing their opposition to local school policies during meetings. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bM9Q2n28Rg\">https:\/\/t.co\/bM9Q2n28Rg<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WSJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WSJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 JamesVGrimaldi (@JamesVGrimaldi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JamesVGrimaldi\/status\/1460704601947127816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>The documents, which state the FBI is adding \u201cthreat tags\u201d to parents, appear to contradict Garland\u2019s testimony on October 21 during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in which he said the Department of Justice and the FBI were not using counterterrorism tools to investigate parents at school board meetings.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"6.8232558139535\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BREAKING<\/a>: Whistleblower Discloses Explosive Documents Showing FBI Using Counterterrorism Tools to Investigate Parents <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HpbdtinJQo\">pic.twitter.com\/HpbdtinJQo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JudiciaryGOP\/status\/1460702250238726145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A letter signed by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), ranking member of the House Judiciary, to Garland Tuesday states:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote readability=\"9\">\n<p>We are now in receipt of a protected disclosure from a Department whistleblower showing that the FBI\u2019s Counterterrorism Division is compiling and categorizing threat assessments related to parents, including a document directing FBI personnel to use a specific \u201cthreat tag\u201d to track potential investigations. This new information calls into question the accuracy and completeness of your sworn testimony.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In his letter, Jordan also reminded Garland:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"10\">\n<p>Specifically, you testified that you could not \u201cimagine any circumstance in which the Patriot Act would be used in the circumstances of parents complaining about their children, nor \u2026 a circumstance where they would be labeled as domestic terrorists.\u201d You also testified: \u201cI do not think that parents getting angry at school boards for whatever reason constitute domestic terrorism. It\u2019s not even a close question.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"12.364130434783\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is the smoking gun. Attorney General Garland provided zero evidence that parents are engaging in credible threats or acts of violence. And yet, he mobilized the FBI Counterterrorism Division to use counterterrorism tools for investigating, tracking, and tagging parents. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PHpVIqvlBw\">pic.twitter.com\/PHpVIqvlBw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Christopher F. Rufo \u2694\ufe0f (@realchrisrufo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realchrisrufo\/status\/1460707366865833986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Jordan wrote the whistleblower provided an FBI email, dated October 20 \u2013 the day before Garland\u2019s testimony \u2013 that referenced a directive from Garland on October 4 to the FBI to look into school board threats and apply a new \u201cthreat tag,\u201d created by the Counterterrorism and Criminal Divisions, to \u201cinvestigations and assessments of threats specifically directed against school board administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe email articulated the purpose as \u2018scop[ing] this threat on a national level and provid[ing] an opportunity for comprehensive analysis of the threat picture for effective management with law enforcement partners at all levels,\u201d Jordan wrote.<\/p>\n<p>On September 30, top officials of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/03\/school-board-group-asks-bidens-help-anti-crt-domestic-terrorist-parents\/\">sent<\/a> a letter to President Joe Biden seeking federal assistance to target parents voicing concerns at school board meetings about issues affecting their children\u2019s education. The letter recommended that federal laws such as the Patriot Act be used to explore whether these parents might be identified as \u201cdomestic terrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>The letter, signed by Viola M. Garcia, Ed.D., the group\u2019s president, and Chip Slaven, Esq., NSBA interim executive director and CEO, made specific mention of parents voicing concerns about mask mandates and stated parents were engaging in \u201cpropaganda purporting the false inclusion of critical race theory within classroom instruction and curricula.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis propaganda continues despite the fact that critical race theory is not taught in public schools and remains a complex law school and graduate school subject well beyond the scope of a K-12 class,\u201d the NSBA officials wrote to Biden.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>On October 4, Garland\u2019s office issued a memorandum that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-addresses-violent-threats-against-school-officials-and-teachers\">stated<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"15\">\n<p>Citing an increase in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members, teachers and workers in our nation\u2019s public schools, today Attorney General Merrick B. Garland directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys\u2019 Offices to meet in the next 30 days with federal, state, Tribal, territorial and local law enforcement leaders to discuss strategies for addressing this disturbing trend. These sessions will open dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment and response by law enforcement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Biden Education Department then&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/news\/press-releases\/five-board-members-appointed-board-overseeing-nations-report-card\">announced<\/a>&nbsp;October 13 it had appointed Garcia to the National Assessment Governing Board, a top position that provides oversight regarding which subjects students will be tested on in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation\u2019s Report Card.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"6.7222222222222\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Education Sec. Won&#8217;t Say Parents are &#8220;Primary&#8221; Stakeholders in Children&#8217;s Education <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SWLlXh6MGx\">pic.twitter.com\/SWLlXh6MGx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreitbartNews\/status\/1444035005546631169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 1, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>In the weeks that followed, NSBA\u2019s own board of directors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/23\/nsba-directors-renounce-letter-asking-biden-to-target-parents-as-domestic-terrorists\/\">renounced<\/a>&nbsp;the letter to Biden sent by Garcia and Slaven, writing on Friday they \u201cregret and apologize\u201d for its content, and at least 26 state school board associations have distanced themselves from NSBA, some totally cutting ties with the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Emails <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/21\/emails-reveal-nsba-top-officers-worked-white-house-letter-targeting-parents-domestic-terrorists\/\">obtained<\/a>&nbsp;as well in October through public records requests by Parents Defending Education (PDE) revealed Garcia and Slaven had been \u201cin talks over the last several weeks with White House staff,\u201d and \u201cthey requested additional information on some of the specific threats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Garcia wrote to NSBA directors the organization \u201chas been engaged with the White House and the Department of Education on these and other issues related to the pandemic for several weeks now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She added:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"11\">\n<p>What we have witnessed are coordinated efforts,&nbsp;<em>playbooks<\/em>, for creating chaos at school board meetings and in local communities. Letters across states are very similar and these incidents are beyond random acts. What we are now seeing is a pattern of threats and violence occurring across state lines and via online platforms, which is why we need the federal government\u2019s assistance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAt best, if we assume that you were ignorant of the FBI\u2019s actions in response to your October 4 memorandum at the time of your testimony, this new evidence suggests that your testimony to the Committee was incomplete and requires additional explanation,\u201d Jordan wrote to Garland.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf, however, you were aware of the FBI\u2019s actions at the time of your testimony, this evidence shows that you willfully misled the Committee about the nature and extent of the Department\u2019s use of federal counterterrorism tools to target concerned parents at school board meetings,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Jordan said the Judiciary Committee would like to further \u201cassess the accuracy and completeness\u201d of his \u201csworn testimony.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A letter from Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland reveals the lawmakers have received documents from a whistleblower that state the FBI is using &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1020784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1020784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1020784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1020784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1020784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1020784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}