Today, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) revealed that the FBI relied on information derived from at least one undercover employee and sought to use local religious organizations as “new avenues for tripwire and source development.”
This proposed outreach plan included contacting so-called “mainline Catholic parishes” and the local “diocesan leadership.”
The documents reveal that the FBI also expressed an
interest in “leverag[ing] existing sources and/or initiat[ing] Type 5
Assessments to develop new sources with the placement and access” to
report on suspicious activity. In light of this information and the
serious consequences for the free exercise of Americans’ First Amendment
rights, Chairman Jordan issued a subpoena today to FBI Director Wray
for all documents related to the FBI’s actions.
BACKGROUND:
On February 16, 2023, Chairman Jordan and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) sought
information from the FBI relating to a January 23, 2023 “domain
perspective” document generated by the Richmond Field Office entitled
“Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in
Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New
Mitigation Opportunities.”
After receiving no response, the Committee reiterated its
request in a subsequent letter dated March 20, 2023. On March 23, 2023,
the FBI produced a substandard and partial response consisting of only
18 pages—many with significant redactions of “personally identifiable
information” or “specific non-public information about [FBI]
investigations, sources, and methods” that prevents the Committee from
fully assessing the content and context of the documents and obtaining
information requested from the Bureau.
NEW INFORMATION:
From
this limited production, it is apparent that the FBI, relying on
information derived from at least one undercover employee, sought to use
local religious organizations as “new avenues for tripwire and source
development.” For example, in a section of a January 23, 2023, domain
perspective document entitled “Opportunities,” the FBI wrote:
“In addition to [redaction], engage in outreach to the leadership of
other [Society of Saint Pius X] chapels in the FBI Richmond [area of
responsibility] to sensitize these congregations to the warning signs of
radicalization and to enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires.”
The FBI similarly noted two other opportunities to engage in outreach
with religious institutions in the Richmond area, citing a desire “to
sensitize the congregation to the warning signs of radicalization and
enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires.”
This outreach plan even included contacting so-called “mainline Catholic parishes” and the local “diocesan leadership.”
The FBI also expressed an
interest in “leverag[ing] existing sources and/or initiat[ing] Type 5
Assessments to develop new sources with the placement and access” to
report on suspicious activity.
The document itself shows that its contents, including its proposal to
develop sources in Catholic churches, were reviewed and approved by two
senior intelligence analysts and even the local Chief Division Counsel.
Whistleblowers have advised that the FBI distributed this document to
field offices across the country.
This information is outrageous and reinforces the Committee’s need for
all FBI records about the domain perspective document. Accordingly, and
because Director Wray has not fully responded to the Committee’s earlier
voluntary requests, Chairman Jordan is issuing a subpoena to the FBI
for all records about the FBI’s January 23 domain perspective document.
Read the subpoena cover letter to Director Wray here.