In a revelation that contradicts previous FBI statements, conservative watchdog Judicial Watch has obtained nearly 100 pages of documents through a FOIA request, shedding light on the agency’s actions surveilling and targeting Catholic churches. The documents challenge FBI Director Christopher Wray’s assurance to Congress that the controversial memo was a “single product by a single field office.”
Contrary to the FBI’s narrative, Judicial Watch’s findings indicate that the memo titled “Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities” was not confined to a lone field office but involved coordination with officials from Portland and Milwaukee. The internal memo, leaked earlier this year, triggered criticism for categorizing “radical-traditionalist Catholic[s]” as potential “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists.”
According to reports from Fox News, the released documents expose FBI officials from different field offices discussing the program, including General Counsel Jason Jones, suggesting a broader scope than initially acknowledged. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton asserts that these revelations should prompt a criminal inquiry into the “Biden FBI scandal.”
Conservatives have long contended that the FBI’s targeting of Catholics was more extensive than admitted. Republicans previously unearthed documents suggesting the involvement of several field offices in the surveillance efforts. Chairman Jim Jordan and co-chair Rep. Mike Johnson wrote a letter in August expressing concern over the FBI’s potential intrusion on Americans’ First Amendment rights.
The FBI, in response, maintains that the internal review found no malicious intent to target Catholics or any religious faith. They emphasize that the intelligence product did not meet their standards and was swiftly removed from FBI systems. Despite these assertions, the newly uncovered documents indicate a more intricate web of involvement, raising questions about the FBI’s handling of the situation and its commitment to upholding constitutional rights.
