Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice (DOJ) targeted parents and concerned citizens speaking out at school board meetings despite objections from the FBI and other law enforcement officials, new documents show.
In October 2021, the DOJ asked federal prosecutors to look out for potential crimes by parents and others who were showing up at school board meetings to speak out against COVID mandates and what they saw as inappropriate books or curricula choices. The Justice Department drafted the memo after being asked by the National School Boards Association, as subsequent reporting revealed.
This directive, sent around for comment, drew concerns from FBI Deputy Assistant Director Jay Greenberg.
“[W]e we have some concern with the attached and would like additional time to engage with you before this messaging is released,” Greenberg wrote to his colleagues, according to new emails released by America First Legal. The group is conducting an investigation into the memo.
“None of us wants to see any threats of violence tolerated, and I am sure we can find a way to stand together on that messaging given appropriate time to work through any concern,” he added.
Miriam Coakley, an FBI attorney, wrote to a colleague: “I hope DOJ reconsiders,” on October 4.
A chief of staff reported that the leader of the National Sheriffs’ Association was surprised by the directive and questioned why it was needed.
“I just received a call from JT at National Sheriffs Association,” Peter Hyun, chief of staff in the office of U.S. Associate General, wrote to associate general attorneys Vanita Gupta and Matthew Coangelo.
https://x.com/America1stLegal/status/2066237092124852590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“He asked why DOJ was involving itself in local issues,” Hyun relayed. He said the law enforcement group had “not heard any concerns about threats to local school boards.” The sheriffs’ association also expressed disappointment that the Justice Department did not give them a “heads up” on the memo.
America First Legal criticized the targeting of concerned citizens.
“These documents prove that the Biden Administration ignored explicit warnings from the FBI’s own leadership and the National Sheriffs’ Association to appease radical leftist activists,” Senior Advisor Ian Prior stated in a news release.
Will Scolinos, an attorney for the legal advocacy group, stated: “These documents confirm that DOJ ignored the law enforcement’s on-the-ground threat assessments and continued with its vindictive, politically-driven weaponization of parents.”
[Featured image screenshot from CSPAN]
Matt Lamb currently works as an associate editor for The College Fix. He also contributes to a variety of websites, including Legal Insurrection, Human Life Review, and AMAC Newsline. His work has been published by The Federalist, Townhall, and The Daily Caller. He has worked for Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA.
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