when Zach Schofstall A former senior resident agent in the FBI's Salt Lake City Division, he heard his superiors wanted to focus more on “domestic terrorism” and “hate crimes,” so he tried to work with them. He filed two hate crime cases with federal prosecutors in Idaho.
The United States Attorney's Office (USAO) declined to prosecute both. Instead, Schoffstall told the Daily Caller he was interested in placating the Biden administration by hosting a seminar to talk about hate crimes to Idaho District Attorney Josh Harwitt. Later, the FBI asked Schoffstall to execute a search warrant against a “domestic extremist” group protesting LGBTQ activists, but Schoffstall refused. It ultimately cost him his career.
“I was told that the pressure the Department of Justice put on the Department to obtain warrants embarrassed the department,” Schoffstall told the whistleblower.
In June 2022, 31 Patriot Front members arrested A man was charged with conspiracy to commit a riot after he was spotted carrying a pole and shield in a U-Haul at a Pride in the Park event in Coeur d'Alene. Schofstall said the group is known for protesting BLM, LGBTQ and anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.
Pride in the Park sparked outrage after the Idaho incident came to light. devil's temple chapter Then, the drag queen becomes a sexual object and ends up attending a “family-friendly” event. However, Christian pastors deleted on suspicion of trespassing. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office announced the same month that it was investigating whether the performers' genitals may have been exposed. According to To the Idaho dispatch center.
At least one Antifa member by Andy Go was also arrested at the Pride event reported.
“Our research reveals that [Patriot Font] We made every effort to prevent someone from committing an act of violence,” Schoffstall said. “They're going to suspend people who talk about it. They're going to kick them out.”
Schofstall said the group's message was “pretty stupid,” but stressed he had never seen any calls for violence.
Patriot Front will participate in the March for Life on January 8, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. The rally and march were part of a three-day annual public event. (Photo by Kamil Krzazynski/Getty Images)
Still, USAO and FBI leaders remained determined to execute the federal search warrant, even pressuring Schoffstall to hand it over to agents with “no knowledge of the investigation.”
After Mr. Schoffstall refused, he was fired and transferred to West Virginia to work in the Criminal Justice Information Services Division. He said Schoffstall was fired in 2024 for his response to the 2022 investigation, despite receiving feedback that he had acted at an “exemplary level.”
Shofstall said the Patriot Front case was transferred to the LGBTQ FBI supervisor in Boise. In addition, the USAO branch manager in Coeur d'Alene had a child in “transitional age” at the time of the Boise Pride event, Schoffstall said. He speculated that it was a combination of “personal and political objectives.”
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the United We Stand Summit in the East Room of the White House on September 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. Religious leaders, civil rights leaders and activists attended the summit, which highlighted the new administration's efforts to address violence and hate crimes. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“You obviously [assistant U.S. attorney] I have a personal interest in the LGBTQ movement,” Schoffstall said. “And there was a brand new U.S. attorney who said he was trying to appease the Justice Department.”
Josh Harwitt 'looked like he was benefiting' [DOJ]” Schoffstall told Caller. Harwit is nominated by President Joe Biden, and according to FEC filings, he donated Ahead of the presidential election between Biden and Harris. He is also a supporter of the LGBTQ movement and has attended events. boise pride Events in December 2022.
The Biden administration has promoted “racial equity,” a euphemism for abandoning the merits of judging individuals based on their race. important doctrine About the company's executive brand policy. This was revealed by the Ministry of Justice in shape Establishment of annual “Stock Action Plan”.
Had a great time at the start of the holiday week @boisepride night at @IdahoBotanical A sparkling winter garden. I hope everyone has a great holiday! 🏳️🌈⛄️🎄 pic.twitter.com/5CnWYzm4VT
— U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit (@USAttyHurwit) December 21, 2022
Mr. Hurwitt reportedly told Mr. Schoffstall that one of his priorities as attorney for the District of Idaho is to combat hate crimes.
Schoffstall told the caller that he had notified USAO of two potential hate crimes. In one case, a white man allegedly assaulted a black man with a knife and called him racial slurs. In another incident, a Hispanic man was allegedly punched and called a racial slur by a white man.
USAO declined to prosecute in both cases. Mr. Schoffstall later informed Mr. Hurwit of the possible hate crime.
“He said, 'Oh, I didn't realize this, but I thought we were going to have some kind of meeting or something about hate crimes,'” Schoffstall said.
“What I learned from that was that Mr. Hurwitt, as the new federal prosecutor, was just trying to make it seem like he was beholden to the chief judge, and he was trying to parrot whatever he wanted him to parrot. , I think that's not necessarily the case for a basic criminal prosecution. ”
The Caller has reached out to Mr. Hurwit's office for comment, but has not yet received a response.
Harwitt established the COVID-19 Task Force in 2023 to prosecute individuals who misused various pandemic-related programs. For fraudulent purposes. (Related article: Kamala's final pitch to black men is a dream for scammers and scammers)
The Department of Justice launched the United Against Hate (UAH) initiative in 2022 under the Biden administration to combat hate. hate crime. The program partnered with nonprofit organizations and the USAO as well as the Department of Justice and FBI to “combat hate.”
#ThisWeekatJustice Department of Justice launches nationwide effort to combat illegal hate acts. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco speaks about criminal enforcement of corporations. etc. pic.twitter.com/mkgKD9nrCJ
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) September 16, 2022
“UAH shares resources to combat hate and encourages discussion among representatives of law enforcement, community organizations, and the general public,” a Department of Justice press release states.
Mr. Hurwit does not prosecute hate crimes; Co-host The 2023 UAH event in collaboration with Idaho State University featured a presentation on how to report. In 2022, he also participated in an event with the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Kootenai County Human Relations Task Force, an Idaho nonprofit organization.
City of Coeur d'Alene passes anti-hate crimes bill ordinance Christy Wood, one of the City Council members, said: board Member of the Department of Justice's Special Committee Involved in the UAH Program.
of @CDAgov The Coeur d'Alene City Council recently passed a “hate speech” bill.
This is the exact same city council that passed a mask mandate for the 2020 pandemic.
Ralph Ginorio admirably opposed it at tonight's meeting. clock: pic.twitter.com/Znxl0cOn1Q
— Idaho Tribune (@IdahoTribune) July 3, 2024
“You know, this new U.S. attorney has told me that he wants to parrot the main priorities of the Department of Justice, including holding meetings and at least appearing like he's trying to do something about hate crimes. That was included,” Schoffstall said.
Mr. Harwit spoke to the special committee. banquet According to the Coeur d'Alene-based group, the group worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to bankrupt white supremacist Aryan nations. spokesperson review. USAO in Idaho too. Co-host 2023 UAH Event at Boise State University, Co-Sponsored with Anti-Defamation League (ADL) pacific northwest.
“I think this goes back to the Patriot Front issue,” Schoffstall told the Caller.
“They quickly realized that they couldn't charge these guys with federal crimes, right? But the fact is, the impression is that they're leaning heavily into this issue and trying to do something about it.” I think it shows that he wanted to give.
In the end, the Patriot Front incident there was almost nothing — The group's leaders were released, and a few were convicted of “conspiracy to insurrection” and sentenced to several days in jail and small fines. Others pleaded guilty and received lighter sentences.
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