Internal documents by the House Judiciary Committee revealed that the FBI plans to build up sources inside Christian churches and Catholic dioceses to prevent domestic terrorism.
The documents show that the FBI specifically targeted "mainline Catholic parishes" and intended to use churches as "new avenues for tripwire and source development." The FBI also expressed interest in leveraging existing sources and initiating Type 5 Assessments to develop new sources with placement and access. The FBI also stated that it wanted to alert religious congregations to the warning indications of radicalization and enlist their assistance acting as tripwires for suspicious behavior.
Jim Jordan Raises Concerns Over Fbi's Use of Undercover Agents
Fox News reported that Jim Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, composed a letter for Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, stating that the FBI relied on at least one undercover agent to obtain its information and suggesting reaching out to Catholic parishes to find sources within the clergy and church leadership.
This information was gathered based on the FBI's scant information to the committee. Jordan has also sent a subpoena to the FBI for a number of relevant papers that they have previously refused to release to the committee, despite demands.
He also disapproved and emphasized the significance of acquiring all FBI records essential to their request. The records that have been made available note that they should "indicate that the FBI tried to recruit Catholic churches as potential sources for monitoring and reporting on their members."
Jordan's letter emphasized that Americans must be able to exercise their First Amendment rights without worries about the FBI placing "tripwire" sources or informants in their places of worship. It also emphasized that attending church is a fundamental right that should be free from interference. He also added that the people attend the church peacefully to feed their spiritual and personal lives, and this shouldn't be compromised in any way.
Also Read: FBI Reports Arrest of Ohio Man for Attempted Arson at Church Hosting Drag Queen Story Hour
The FBI's Plans and Announcements
The FBI planned to monitor a Catholic denomination in Richmond, Virginia, according to a memo that was leaked in February by previous FBI agent Kyle Seraphin. The story in Newsweek states that this was carried out to protect individuals against the threat of white supremacy, which the FBI believed had crept into Catholics who preferred the Latin Mass.
The FBI released an announcement last month stating that the document failed to coordinate with the strict criteria the agency had set up and that it had been promptly removed from their system after becoming aware of it following the statement's release. The FBI has started an internal assessment of this situation to ensure their procedures and regulations were followed.
The investigation on violent extremism motivated by race or ethnicity that the FBI received did not meet the agency's rigorous requirements. The FBI withdrew the document from its system and reviewed its basis as soon as they learned about it, according to a spokesperson who discussed it in The Daily Wire through email.
The FBI will not investigate or engage in actions based on First Amendment-protected activity because they are committed to conducting thorough investigations and preventing violent acts while preserving the constitutional rights of all Americans.
Related Article:FBI Accused of Religious Discrimination as Conservatives Denounce Targeting of Traditional Catholics as 'Violent Extremists'
