{"id":2040864,"date":"2023-09-21T22:36:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T02:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ag-garland-grilled-over-controversial-domestic-terrorist-memo-about-parents\/"},"modified":"2023-09-21T22:37:43","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T02:37:43","slug":"ag-garland-grilled-over-controversial-domestic-terrorist-memo-about-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ag-garland-grilled-over-controversial-domestic-terrorist-memo-about-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Garland questioned on contentious &#8216;domestic terrorist&#8217; memo regarding parents."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/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%2Fag-garland-grilled-over-controversial-domestic-terrorist-memo-about-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=2040864&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--><blockquote>\n<p>During a House hearing, Attorney \u2062General Merrick Garland revealed that the controversial memo instructing the FBI to \u2064investigate parents who\u200c spoke out\u200d at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/father-teacher-slam-elite-private-schools-for-their-obsession-with-race\/\" title=\"Father, Teacher Slam Elite Private Schools For Their Obsession With Race\">public school board meetings<\/a> was never rescinded.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) questioned Mr. Garland\u2062 about the memo, which was\u200b issued in \u200bOctober 2021. The \u2064memo\u200d called for \u2062collaboration between the FBI and local law\u2062 enforcement to target certain parents, citing harassment and threats of violence against school officials as the reason. However, many parents \u2062were unhappy with the left-leaning curriculum in some school districts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/you-are-serious-they-are-not-you-are-decent-they-are-not-rep-swalwell-to-ag-garland-on-republicans-5495691?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>\u2018You Are Serious. They Are Not. You Are Decent. They Are Not\u2019: Rep. Swalwell to AG Garland on Republicans<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/20\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/you-are-serious-they-are-not-you-are-decent-they-are-not-rep-swalwell-to-ag-garland-on-republicans-5495691?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/garland-repeatedly-declines-to-discuss-weiss-appointment-as-special-counsel-in-hunter-biden-case-5495133?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Garland\u200b Repeatedly Declines to \u200bDiscuss Weiss Appointment as Special Counsel \u2063in Hunter Biden Case<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/20\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/garland-repeatedly-declines-to-discuss-weiss-appointment-as-special-counsel-in-hunter-biden-case-5495133?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Republicans had previously called for the memo to be rescinded in late 2021. Rep. Roy once again asked Mr. Garland\u200d about \u200bits status on\u2064 Sept. 20, and the attorney general indicated that it had not been rescinded.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing to rescind,&#8221; Mr. Garland replied. &#8220;The\u2064 memo was meant to initiate meetings\u200b within 30 days, and that time has passed. \u200cNothing has \u200dhappened regarding\u200d that in over a year and a half.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The Epoch Times reached\u2062 out to the Department \u200bof Justice (DOJ) for further clarification on Mr. Garland&#8217;s statement but did not receive a response\u200b at the time of publication.<\/p>\n<h2>NSBA Memo<\/h2>\n<p>The aforementioned DOJ memo requested the FBI and U.S. attorneys&#8217; offices to hold \u200ca meeting within the \u2062next 30 days to collaborate with local law enforcement in addressing harassment, threats, or intimidation against school staff nationwide. This directive came after the National School Boards Association \u200c(NSBA) sent\u200d a letter to the Biden \u200cadministration, urging federal assistance and suggesting that certain parents be investigated as \u2062&#8221;domestic terrorists&#8221; under the Patriot Act.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ag-garland-grilled-over-controversial-domestic-terrorist-memo-about-parents\/\" title=\"Garland questioned on contentious 'domestic terrorist' memo regarding parents.\">memo faced significant backlash<\/a> from Republicans and parent groups, who argued that it \u2063was an attempt to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-must-stop-the-executive-branchs-heinous-attempts-to-censor-americans\/\" title=\"Congress must halt the Executive Branch's censoring of Americans.\">suppress constitutionally protected\u200c speech<\/a>. Earlier this year, a report from the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee (<a href=\"https:\/\/judiciary.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/republicans-judiciary.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/2023-03-21-school-board-documents-interim-report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>) concluded that the DOJ had\u200c no valid grounds to instruct the FBI to monitor parents at school board meetings.\n<\/div>\n<p>The March report stated, &#8220;It appears, from\u2062 these documents and the \u200dinformation received previously, that the Administration&#8217;s actions were a political offensive meant to quell growing dissent over controversial educational\u2062 curricula and unpopular decisions made by school boards.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas)\u2063 challenges \u200copen \u200cborders policy advocate Alex Nowrasteh during a House Immigration Integrity Subcommittee hearing in Washington on Sept. 14, 2023. (NTD\/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Virginia Father Mentioned<\/h2>\n<p>During the \u200dhearing,\u200c Rep. Roy brought up\u200c the case of Scott\u200d Smith, a Virginia father who was recently pardoned by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Smith had been targeted by law enforcement after criticizing the Loudoun County school \u200cdistrict&#8217;s handling of his daughter&#8217;s sexual assault case during a school board meeting in 2021. Following his pardon, Smith stated that\u200c he is not \u200ba &#8220;domestic terrorist&#8221; but simply a father willing to do anything to protect \u2064his daughter.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;On Oct. 21, 2021,\u200c I asked \u2063you about Mr. Scott Smith, a father in Loudoun County, Virginia, who was arrested at a school board meeting where he questioned\u200c the rape of his daughter in the bathroom of a public school\u2062 there. \u200dAt the time, you claimed to be unaware of\u2064 the case. Are you now familiar with it? Yes or no?&#8221; asked Rep. Roy.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063attorney general responded,\u2064 &#8220;[I am] only familiar to the extent that\u200d I have read about it in the press. Yes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;On Oct. 4, 2021, you issued a memo directing the\u2062 FBI and U.S. attorney&#8217;s office to address &#8216;harassment&#8217; of school boards. Yes or no?&#8221; inquired Rep. Roy.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I issued a memo to address violence\u2063 and threats of violence against school personnel, not school boards. It did not mention parents as terrorists or attending school boards,&#8221; clarified\u2064 Mr. Garland.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth noting that the NSBA memo referenced Scott Smith&#8217;s case. \u200bIn his statement after being pardoned, Smith accused \u200bthe NSBA of defaming him and other \u2063concerned parents who dared to challenge their local school board.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Roy then asked \u200bMr. Garland if he had apologized for implicating Scott Smith \u200bas a domestic terrorist in the DOJ memo.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The memo said nothing about him, nothing about parents being terrorists, nothing about attending school boards,&#8221; replied the \u2062attorney general.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the\u2062 arguments made by critics and supporters of the controversial \u2063memo regarding the infringement on First Amendment rights?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  November 2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The\u200d controversy surrounding the memo highlights the ongoing debate over the \u200crole of parents in their children&#8217;s education and the limits\u200c of free speech. \u200cWhile some argue that\u200b parents have a right to \u200cvoice their concerns \u200band opinions at school board meetings, \u200dothers\u200c believe \u200cthat threats and harassment directed towards school \u200dofficials \u2064should not\u2063 be tolerated.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the\u2062 memo \u2063argue \u2064that \u200dit was an overreach of\u200b federal power and\u200b an infringement on \u200bFirst Amendment rights. They assert that labeling \u200cconcerned parents as \u2062&#8221;domestic\u2063 terrorists&#8221; was an unjustified and inflammatory response\u200c to\u200c legitimate\u2062 grievances. They also\u2062 point out that the memo&#8217;s vague language could easily lead to the \u2063targeting \u2062of innocent \u2063individuals and the chilling effect on free \u200cspeech.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters\u200b of\u200d the memo \u2062contend that it was necessary to address instances of harassment and threats\u2063 directed at school\u2063 staff. They argue that \u200dthe safety and well-being of educators\u200c and\u200c administrators should\u2064 be a top priority and that action must be\u200d taken to investigate and prevent potential acts of violence.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, proponents of \u2064the memo \u2064argue that \u2063it was not intended to suppress free\u2062 speech but to combat\u200d alleged\u200b instances of intimidation and harassment. They \u200cemphasize that\u200d expressing concerns about \u2063the curriculum \u2062or school policies can be done in a respectful and constructive manner without \u200bresorting to threats or personal attacks.<\/p>\n<p>The lack of a rescission of\u200b the controversial memo raises questions \u2062about the\u200c Department\u200d of Justice&#8217;s stance\u2063 on\u2064 this issue. It suggests that the FBI&#8217;s instructions to monitor\u200d parents who spoke \u2062out at school\u200c board \u200cmeetings\u2064 may\u200c still be\u200d in effect, despite previous calls for its\u2064 withdrawal from Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>As the debate continues, it is crucial to \u2062find a balance \u2064between protecting free speech and addressing legitimate concerns\u2064 regarding the safety \u2062and security of school officials. The \u2064Department\u200b of Justice\u2063 should provide further clarification on the \u2064status of\u200d the memo and\u200c its future\u2062 implications.<\/p>\n<p>Public discourse is essential in \u200ba democratic society, and parents \u200bhave a right\u2064 to participate actively\u2062 in their children&#8217;s education.\u2064 It is crucial to ensure that their voices are heard without fear of retribution \u200dor unwarranted monitoring by federal \u200cagencies. Parents and policymakers must work together to create an \u200benvironment where \u2064respectful dialogue and engagement can take place, ensuring\u2063 the best interests of students are served.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy surrounding the memo \u2062should \u200dserve as a \u2064catalyst\u2064 for a broader discussion on the boundaries \u200bof free speech and \u2062the\u2064 appropriate role of federal \u2064law enforcement in addressing threats and harassment. It is an opportunity\u200b to reaffirm the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the memo instructing the FBI to probe parents expressing concerns at school board meetings was never withdrawn. Responding to Rep. Chip Roy, Garland acknowledged the controversial memo sent in October 2021, which requested FBI involvement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":2040865,"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":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2040864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"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\/2040864","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\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2040864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2040864\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2040865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2040864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2040864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2040864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}