{"id":1955210,"date":"2023-06-23T12:14:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T16:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-fbi-whistleblower-says-deputy-director-threatened-agents-uncomfortable-with-j6-investigations\/"},"modified":"2023-06-23T12:15:32","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T16:15:32","slug":"new-fbi-whistleblower-says-deputy-director-threatened-agents-uncomfortable-with-j6-investigations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-fbi-whistleblower-says-deputy-director-threatened-agents-uncomfortable-with-j6-investigations\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI whistleblower: Deputy Director threatens agents uneasy with J6 probes."},"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\">20<\/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%2Fnew-fbi-whistleblower-says-deputy-director-threatened-agents-uncomfortable-with-j6-investigations%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=1955210&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 class=\"article-content\">\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doi-inspector-general-finds-top-biden-land-management-official-violated-ethics-pledge\/\" title=\"DOI Inspector General Finds Top Biden Land Management Official Violated Ethics Pledge\">independent nonprofit government watchdog<\/a> that specializes in whistleblower protection sent letters to Congress and the Department of Justice (DOJ) this week with more evidence of misconduct by FBI leadership.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Whistleblower Alleges Intimidation by FBI Deputy Director<\/h2>\n<p>On Thursday, Empower Oversight <a href=\"https:\/\/empowr.us\/empower-oversight-delivers-evidence-of-fbi-deputy-director-threatening-january-6th-fbi-whistleblowers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">submitted<\/a> an affidavit of a new FBI whistleblower who came forward with allegations of improper intimidation by FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. The whistleblower claimed that shortly after Abbate\u2019s appointment in February 2021, Abbate threatened agency employees concerned about the bureau\u2019s overblown response to the Jan. 6 Capitol demonstrations that same year.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-913263189\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1615ac4f879e9be234612b34e6c08f0a fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1615ac4f879e9be234612b34e6c08f0a\"><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Threats and Retaliation<\/h3>\n<p>During a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-aides-hold-talks-with-israel-on-iran-regional-issues\/\" title=\"Biden Aides Hold Talks With Israel on Iran, Regional Issues\">secure video conference<\/a>, said the unnamed employee, Abbate called on agency staff with concerns about the bureau\u2019s approach to the Jan. 6 riot to meet with the deputy director personally so he could, in the whistleblower\u2019s words, \u201cset them straight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have witnessed hundreds of Director [Secure Video Teleconference]s and have never seen a direct threat like that any other time,\u201d the whistleblower said in the affidavit. \u201cIt was chilling and personal, communicating clearly that there would be consequences for anyone that questioned his direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In May, House lawmakers on the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/05\/18\/whistleblowers-expose-fbis-corruption-and-ongoing-persecution-of-political-opponents-in-damning-new-testimony\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heard<\/a> from several other FBI whistleblowers who made similar claims about the conduct of agency leadership.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Concerns Over FBI&#8217;s Reaction<\/h3>\n<p>Former FBI Special Agent Steve Friend, who filed for whistleblower protection in August, told the committee he raised concerns over the FBI\u2019s reaction to the Capitol riot, which he thought \u201ccould have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whistleblowers-expose-fbis-corruption-and-ongoing-persecution-of-political-opponents-in-damning-new-testimony\/\" title=\"FBI corruption and persecution of political opponents exposed by whistleblowers in new testimony.\">undermined potentially righteous prosecutions<\/a> and may have been part of an effort to inflate the FBI\u2019s statistics on domestic extremism.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI also voiced concerns that the FBI\u2019s use of SWAT and large-scale arrest operations to apprehend suspects who were accused of nonviolent crimes and misdemeanors, represented by counsel, and who pledged to cooperate with the federal authorities in the event of criminal charges created an unnecessary risk to FBI personnel and public safety,\u201d Friend said. \u201cAt each level of my chain of command, leadership cautioned that despite my exemplary work performance, whistleblowing placed my otherwise bright future with the FBI at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Garret O\u2019Boyle, another former FBI special agent who filed for whistleblower protection, told lawmakers how he moved his family \u201chalfway across the country\u201d before the FBI suspended him for speaking out.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Seeking Justice and Accountability<\/h3>\n<p>House Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, have <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/04\/25\/house-republicans-subpoena-fbi-official-for-alleged-retaliation-against-whistleblowers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sought testimony<\/a> from at least 16 FBI employees to probe agency misconduct related to whistleblower retaliation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Empower Oversight made clear in a Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/empowr.us\/empower-oversight-delivers-evidence-of-fbi-deputy-director-threatening-january-6th-fbi-whistleblowers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">press release<\/a> that \u201cwhile the affiant doesn\u2019t know and isn\u2019t associated with Empower Oversight\u2019s other FBI clients, the affidavit is relevant to FBI whistleblower cases that are currently under inspector general review.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Contradicting Training and Values<\/h3>\n<p>According to the affidavit, Abbate\u2019s threat goes against the bureau\u2019s training for new employees who are taken for a tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to learn about the lessons for law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe message was this: when orders or policies are wrong, when we are told to do things that violate core values and principles, we must have the courage to ask difficult questions and raise objections. We should be able to do that without fear of being crushed,\u201d the whistleblower said. \u201cThe Deputy Director\u2019s threats sent the opposite message: Dissent will not be tolerated. If you question my response to January 6, I don\u2019t want you in my FBI.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAbbate\u2019s threat to employees was witnessed by numerous other FBI employees and constitutes evidence of intent to retaliate against any dissent,\u201d said Empower Oversight President Tristan Leavitt. \u201cThis evidence can be independently corroborated by dozens, if not hundreds, of other FBI employees if congressional committees and the Justice Department Inspector General would investigate and document the results.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The FBI has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-fbi-whistleblower-says-deputy-director-threatened-agents-uncomfortable-with-j6-investigations\/\" title=\"FBI whistleblower: Deputy Director threatens agents uneasy with J6 probes.\">spent years stonewalling congressional oversight<\/a> into agency conduct surrounding the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. In May, Jordan re-upped <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/05\/25\/the-fbi-knows-what-car-was-used-in-j6-dnc-pipe-bomb-but-refuses-to-identify-prime-suspect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">demands<\/a> for an FBI briefing over the two pipe bombs planted at the RNC and DNC. The FBI, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2023\/may\/12\/jan-6-pipe-bombs-rnc-dnc-were-inoperable-says-ex-a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a> to former FBI Agent Kyle Seraphin in an interview with The Washington Times, knows what car the suspect used but hasn\u2019t pursued the individual in question.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/08\/19\/think-the-fbi-deserves-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-this-laundry-list-of-corruption-should-make-you-think-again\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Think The FBI Deserves The Benefit Of The Doubt? This Laundry List Of Corruption Should Make You Think Again<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The pipe bombs, Seraphin added, were found inoperable.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI has also <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/01\/11\/fbi-refuses-to-say-how-many-informants-were-involved-in-jan-6-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refused<\/a> to answer Republican lawmakers\u2019 questions about the extent of the agency\u2019s involvement at the Capitol on the day of the riot. Three months after The New York Times ran the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/06\/18\/technology\/misinformation-unindicted-co-conspirators-capitol-riot.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">headline<\/a>, \u201cNo, there is no evidence that the F.B.I. organized the Jan. 6 Capitol riot,\u201d the paper followed up with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/09\/25\/us\/politics\/capitol-riot-fbi-informant.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">another<\/a> in September 2021: \u201cAmong Those Who Marched Into the Capitol on Jan. 6: An F.B.I. Informant.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-45c88a6437fd754772cfa7f86e318933 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-45c88a6437fd754772cfa7f86e318933\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An independent nonprofit watchdog for whistleblowers sent evidence of FBI leadership misconduct to Congress and the DOJ. Empower Oversight submitted an affidavit from a new FBI whistleblower, accusing Deputy Director Paul of improper intimidation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":494,"featured_media":1955211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1955210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955210","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\/494"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1955210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955210\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1955211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1955210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1955210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1955210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}