Conservative Groups Push for FBI Document Release
A coalition of conservative individuals and organizations is calling on US Attorney General Pam Bondy and FBI Director Kash Patel to release information about “patterns of injustice and religious discrimination” within the FBI. They argue that their pursuit of answers has faced numerous obstacles from the Biden administration.
The group, leading the charge as part of the Advancing American Freedom (AAF), has filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to compel the FBI to disclose documents concerning the surveillance of American Catholic organizations. This includes addressing the controversial “Richmond Memo,” which labeled traditionalist Catholic groups as “potential extremists.”
In a statement sent via email, the AAF expressed frustration with a prior FOIA request directed at Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, claiming it was “hampered at every turn.” Now, under the Trump administration, they are renewing their efforts and broadening their demands to include communications concerning the destruction of documents linked to earlier requests.
Senator Chuck Grassley has criticized the FBI for allegedly using biased sources in memos targeting traditional Catholic groups under the Biden administration. The contentious memo reportedly misused taxpayer funds, raising serious concerns about the agency’s monitoring of what’s been termed Radical-Traditionalist Catholic groups. It suggested that these groups present “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism” risks and cited them as potential opportunities for threat mitigation.
Following the memo’s release, which sparked significant backlash, Wray tried to downplay its implications during Congressional testimony in 2023, stating that it originated from just “one field office.” However, Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee later revealed that both the Portland and Los Angeles FBI offices had roles in categorizing traditionalist Catholics as potential domestic terrorists.
Recent compilations of records imply that the extent of the FBI’s targeting of Catholics far exceeds their initial claims. The AAF pointed towards new revelations from Grassley, indicating that there are at least 13 additional FBI documents and attachments using the term “Radical Traditionalist Catholic.” Their FOIA request underscored the need to address the “patterns of fraud and religious discrimination” present in the FBI, emphasizing a commitment to protect American religious freedom.
The AAF’s statement also highlighted inconsistencies in Wray’s Congressional testimony. They contend that the existence of these reports contradicts his assertion that the Richmond memo was merely a product of one field office.
Moreover, it has come to light that the FBI had formerly interviewed a church choir director—who is also a priest—prior to drafting the controversial memo. The AAF’s demand emphasized a broader concern of intentional dishonesty within the Biden administration when handling requests related to the surveillance of Catholic groups.
In their appeals, the AAF, alongside various signatories including Rick Centrum from Pennsylvania and former Republican senators associated with the Young Americas Foundation, urged the Trump administration to act decisively. They argue that the FBI and DOJ must work to safeguard Americans from religious discrimination.
In conclusion, the AAF expressed the belief that the Biden administration’s response to initial requests—asserting that no relevant documents existed—was unfounded, suggesting that a paper trail still remains. Comments from the DOJ and FBI have yet to be sought on this matter.
