Wray hands over FBI files on school board memo to House Judiciary following contempt warning.
The FBI Provides Documents to House Judiciary Committee
The FBI has delivered a collection of documents to the House Judiciary Committee following a warning from committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) that he would hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress if the materials were not provided. The documents, outlined in a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, primarily address a Department of Justice directive issued in October 2021, which called for the FBI to address an alleged increase in threats against school administrators. They also touch on a now-retracted internal FBI assessment that linked certain traditional Catholics to domestic violent extremism.
Contempt of Congress Proceedings
Jordan had subpoenaed Wray for various records related to these issues and expressed his intention to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings in a letter to Wray last week. Jordan cited Wray’s “refusal to produce documents responsive to the Committee’s subpoenas—months after the return dates” as the reason for his decision. While the FBI had previously provided redacted records to Jordan on a rolling basis, it had not fully met all of his requests. However, Jordan has indicated that he is currently satisfied with the FBI’s latest response.
A spokesperson for Jordan stated, “We’re not moving forward with contempt of Wray on Thursday. We’re reviewing the documents the FBI provided today, and everything remains on the table.”
FBI’s Response and Accommodations
In its response, the FBI highlighted the extensive nature of Jordan’s requests, noting that he had sent 14 letters and three subpoenas on various subjects since the beginning of the year. The bureau also mentioned that Jordan had requested testimony from over two dozen FBI officials. Christopher Dunham, FBI acting assistant director, stated that the bureau had already produced a significant amount of responsive material. He included additional requested documents, some of which were sensitive or had been previously provided in a more redacted form. Dunham also provided an appendix listing the dates on which the FBI had made efforts to comply with the committee’s requests.
Dunham wrote, “We believe the extensive ongoing document productions, transcribed interviews, and upcoming briefing constitute significant accommodations to the Committee’s stated concerns and questions regarding both the Attorney General’s Memorandum and the January 23rd Domain Perspective.”
Jordan’s Investigation and Concerns
Jordan’s requests are part of the committee’s broader investigation into the ”FBI’s weaponization of its law-enforcement powers against Americans who exercise their First Amendment rights.” He has expressed concerns that the FBI may have violated civil liberties by inappropriately monitoring innocent parents of students during the heightened tensions between parents and school boards in 2021. These tensions arose due to issues such as forced masking and transgender policies. Jordan has also criticized the retracted assessment about certain Catholics, which contained proposals that he believes undermine religious liberty, including the idea of planting sources in specific churches.
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