House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan in writing on Thursday to request that Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department’s investigator general, start an investigation into the FBI’s alleged use of social test checks to detain or remove officials and staff with liberal ideologies. Additionally, this request included a strong warning about these practices to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Jordan’s action comes in response to a report from Just the News that described an investigation into an employee’s social beliefs by the FBI security clearance review. Especially, the review asked whether the individual had expressed support for former President Donald Trump, attended a Second Amendment march, or voiced skepticism about COVID- 19 vaccinations.
The FBI appears to be purging itself of people who do not discuss its preferred social views, Jordan wrote in a text to Director Wray. He made a point of highlighting the disturbing nature of these practices, particularly when they violate basic liberties and democratic rights.
Speaking on the” John Solomon Reports” radio, Jordan highlighted the severity of the situation:” Specifically when they’re asking about fundamental rights, your legal rights, I mean, that is that is frightening stuff”. He added that when reporters are accused of bringing these issues to light, they are subject to hostile actions, and that when they do so, they combine it all with politics.
Jordan’s investigation into the social weaponization of law enforcement has been continued, with a special emphasis on the FBI’s perform. Jordan’s conversation with Inspector General Horowitz put forth a compelling argument that the targeting of an employee’s social values and First Amendment interests was greatly concerning and hardly connected to legitimate security threat evaluations. He wrote,” These activities only serve to further weaken the dwindling public confidence in the FBI and further bolster the Committee and Select Subcommittee’s concerns about social discrimination within the FBI.”
Jordan also made reference to Judicial Watch’s investigation, which suggested political retaliation against FBI whistleblowers helping Congress. He made mention of an FBI official’s alleged disclosure of nonpublic information about these whistleblowers to a Democrat Select Subcommittee, ostensibly to refute their assertions about FBI misconduct. According to Jordan,” It appears from the documents that the FBI sought to selectively disclose this nonpublic information so that it would be used to undermine the credibility of the whistleblowers.”
Jordan questioned the relevance of political viewpoints to security clearance determinations in a separate letter to Wray. He argued that questions about political beliefs are” completely irrelevant to any legitimate security risk determination” and violate First Amendment rights while determining the legality of employees ‘ actions is legitimate.
Following the release of internal FBI memos showing that bureau officials had inquired about an employee’s support for Trump, stance on COVID- 19 vaccines, and participation in a Second Amendment rally, concerns about political bias have intensified. These memos stated that the employee’s security clearance had been revoked months after his conservative beliefs and vaccine skepticism were confirmed.
Tristan Leavitt, the lawyer representing the affected FBI employee, commended the congressional oversight, stating,” It’s good to see Congress holding the FBI’s feet to the fire”. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the use of these inquiries to justify firing conservative FBI employees.
On the” Just the News, No Noise” TV show, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton echoed this sentiment, predicting that the FBI would try to deflect criticism despite strong evidence of misconduct. ” I’m sure we’ll get some distraction and noise from Chris Wray and a reaffirmation that the FBI never does anything wrong, even when it’s caught red- handed”, Fitton remarked.
