OPINION:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is a mess.
Last month its own data showed an unprecedented spike in murders nationwide in 2020. There were 21,570 homicides in the U.S. last year, which was 4,901 more than in 2019 – the largest increase since national records began being kept in the 1960s. This week hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin said he saw “25 bullet shots in the glass window of the retail space” in the building he lives in Chicago and hinted the rise in crime might force him to relocate his company.
“It’s becoming ever more difficult to have this as our global headquarters, a city which has so much violence,” Mr. Griffin said. “I mean Chicago is like Afghanistan, on a good day, and that’s a problem.”
One would think the FBI would concentrate its effort to stem this rising violence. Instead, Biden’s Department of Justice has focused their attention on cracking down on the “domestic terrorists” of conservative parents concerned about their children being indoctrinated in public schools, Republicans who questioned the validity of the 2020 presidential election, and those within the GOP pushing back on authoritarian COVID-19 mandates.
This week, Attorney General Merrick Garland instructed the FBI to mobilize against parents who oppose critical race theory being taught in public schools, citing “threats.” The move followed the National School Board Association’s request to classify school board protests as “domestic terrorism.” Undoubtedly, this is a political move orchestrated to silence those who disagree our children should be taught about “White privilege” and “systemic racism” in public schools – those who don’t want their children raised in an environment where a person’s character is judged by the color of their skin.
What’s most concerning about this is how the FBI has conducted itself in other politically motivated investigations – meant to paint the GOP as the most prominent national security threat to America.
Take, for example, the kidnapping plot that unfoiled last year against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The mainstream media and the left immediately latched onto the narrative it was organized by crazy right-wing Trump supporters infuriated by Ms. Whitmer’s COVID-19 mask mandates, lockdown orders, and travel restrictions.
But in court documents released this summer, Adam Fox, the accused leader of the alleged kidnapping plot, said FBI informants concocted the entire scheme. Mr. Fox alleges at least three FBI informants “invited and encouraged him to participate in the events that they now claim are overt acts in support of the crimes.” He maintains the plot to attack Ms. Whitmer’s summer home or family boat, the hand-written notes, and the scheme to blow up a bridge near the governor’s home were all based on contact initiated by the federal informants. Other defendants in the case say 12 FBI informants were working on them a year ago. Mr. Fox is preparing an entrapment defense – basically claiming the FBI was so eager to arrest and prove their right-wing “domestic terrorism” bonafides, they were the ones who actually created the drama.
Last week, it was revealed by the New York Times, the FBI had an informant in the crowd during the Jan. 6th Capitol Hill protest. According to the Times reporting, the informant was texting his handler in real-time, letting the FBI know that the pro-Trump crowd was consumed by herd mentality rather than carrying out any type of preplanned attack. The FBI did nothing to stop the protest or Capitol Hill raid.
Yet, they have pursued high-profile conspiracy charges against those in the mob, despite evidence to the contrary. FBI agents have arrested 13 people identified as Proud Boys for trying to conspire to interfere with law enforcement officers at the Capitol and obstruct President Biden’s electoral victory certification. In the FBI’s effort to crack down on everyone who attended the Jan. 6th “stop the steal” rally, they confiscated a man’s LEGO set of the U.S. Capitol at his home as “evidence.” They raided an Alaska couple’s house seizing their computers, phones, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Marilyn and Paul Hueper, whose Homer, Alaska home was raided by 12 FBI and other law enforcement agents on April 28 in search of a laptop belonging to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, weren’t arrested and claim the FBI ambush was based on a case of mistaken identity.
“Our home was unlawfully raided, and we were held captive at gunpoint by the FBI,” Ms. Hueper wrote on her website explaining the raid. “Ignorance of our Rights and the Law caused us to resign ourselves to their terrorism in our own home!”
She continued: “Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Weaponized aggression by government agencies is growing! Because of this, I have committed myself to learning about my Rights, and how to exercise my Power, even in intense situations. And to Empower as many others as are willing.”
Now, with the FBI invading school board meetings, Ms. Hueper’s blog may find an even wider audience.
Instead of targeting Mr. Biden’s political enemies, the FBI should concentrate its efforts on stemming the rising crime in our nation’s cities. But I guess that’s too much to ask from our crackpot, and weaponized, DOJ.
• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at the Washington Times.
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