The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government held a hearing Thursday consisting of two panels to discuss the "politicization of the FBI and DOJ and attacks on American civil liberties."
The two panels included U.S. senators and representatives currently serving, as well as former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former FBI agents and Professor Jonathan Turley of George Washington University Law Center. The select subcommittee was formed by the GOP House majority with the purpose of examining and providing oversight of federal agencies that the party has accused of becoming politicized. In House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) opening statements, he spoke about the numerous FBI agent whistleblowers bringing forward what the chairman called "the truth" and the concern that Americans have for the direction agencies like the FBI, Department of Justice and ATF are heading.
Thomas J. Baker, a retired FBI special agent, opened his remarks with a testimony.
“Americans have lost faith in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an institution they once regarded as the world’s greatest law enforcement agency,” he said.
Baker said that he believes the FBI’s decline was caused by the centralization of leadership and the transformation of culture from a law enforcement agency into an intelligence agency. Baker attributes this cultural change to former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller’s reaction to the Sept. 11 attacks.
Ranking member Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (VI), who served as an impeachment manager in the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump, said that she is "deeply concerned" that the Weaponization Subcommittee will be used "as a place to settle scores, showcase conspiracy theories and advance an extreme agenda that risks undermining Americans’ faith in our democracy."
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that over the past few years, he's “never seen so much effort from the FBI, partisan media and some Democratic colleagues to interfere with and undermine very legitimate congressional inquiries.”
Grassley referenced examples of Crossfire Hurricane, codename for the controversial investigation into Trump and collusion with Russia, and the more recent investigation into the Biden family. The senator stated his belief that opposition to both investigations came from “the FBI, partisan media and some of his Democratic colleagues” creating what he termed “the triad.”
“Millions of Americans already fear that weaponization is the right name for this special subcommittee — not because weaponization of the government is its target, but because weaponization of the government is its purpose,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said in the panel she participated in.
Gabbard testified, focusing on cancel culture and opposition to hate and offensive speech.
“We live in a culture of fear where many Americans are afraid to speak freely, express themselves, have open dialogue and debate,” Gabbard said. “We have individuals in our government, often working through their arms in the mainstream media and big tech, doing exactly what our Founders rejected – trying to control what we are allowed to see and say under the guise of protecting us from so-called misinformation or disinformation.”
According to MSN News, the subcommittee must submit its final report to the full House of Representative on its finding by the last day of the 118th Congress, Jan. 2, 2025. Jordan also indicated that the committee intends to propose legislation designed to protect the American people.
