Originally published October 4, 2023 8:00 pm PDT
As the specter of the 2024 U.S. presidential election looms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) finds itself under scrutiny for purportedly targeting a new category of extremists—loyal supporters of former President Donald Trump, commonly identified as MAGA (Make America Great Again) followers.
The initiative comes amid alleged concerns of what the government characterizes as potential violence and substantial civil unrest.
According to confidential data obtained by Newsweek, a considerable fraction of the FBI’s current “anti-government” investigations are centered around Trump backers, fueling accusations of political bias.
An anonymous FBI official highlighted the quandary faced by the Bureau, stating that it aims to thwart domestic terrorism and avoid a repeat of the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, while also upholding the Constitutional rights of Americans to campaign, express their views, and protest against the government.
The official claimed that the FBI “is in an almost impossible position.”
The delicacy of the situation is exacerbated by claims from Congressional Republicans that the Biden administration has weaponized the Bureau against the right wing, necessitating a cautious approach from the FBI.
In a bid to understand the domestic security landscape and evaluate the Biden administration’s measures against what it designates as domestic terrorism, Newsweek conducted a three-month investigation, conversing with over a dozen current or former government officials specializing in terrorism.
Most officials requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discourse or fear of repercussions.
The investigative report also sheds light on secret data from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), painting a grim picture of the partisan environment, which experts believe is charged and uniquely perilous.
The report questions whether labeling the issue as “terrorism” and employing counterterrorism methodologies, honed over a decade in response to threats like Al-Qaeda, is the most effective approach to addressing domestic concerns.
In a statement to Newsweek, the FBI emphasized its commitment to “detect and stop terrorist attacks,” focusing on potential criminal violations, violence, and threats of violence.
The Bureau claimed it is nevertheless respecting Americans’ free speech: “We are committed to protecting the safety and constitutional rights of all Americans and will never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity, including a person’s political beliefs or affiliations,” the FBI said.
However, critics argue that the FBI’s stance took a significant turn post-January 6, especially with the introduction of a new subcategory, “AGAAVE-Other” (anti-government, anti-authority violent extremism-Other), in October 2022.
This classification, unannounced and reported for the first time, is described as encompassing “domestic violent extremists who cite anti-government or anti-authority motivations for violence or criminal activity not otherwise defined.”
Though the description doesn’t explicitly mention Trump or MAGA, insiders acknowledge its alleged applicability to political violence attributed to Trump’s supporters.
One FBI officer, speaking to Newsweek, defended this as a mere record-keeping adjustment in response to Congressional pressure for better tracking.
He stated, “Obviously if Democratic Party supporters resort to violence, it [AGAAVE-Other] would apply to them as well. It doesn’t matter that there is a low likelihood of that. So yes, in practical terms, it refers to MAGA, though the carefully constructed language is wholly nonpartisan.”
The targeting of Trump supporters by the FBI aligns with accusations from within their ranks that the Bureau is acting as a political tool of a repressive deep state in Washington, D.C., aiming to safeguard the political establishment at the expense of democracy.
This narrative is not confined to the extreme fringes, as some of Trump’s Republican allies in Congress have even called for defunding the FBI over such allegations and the prosecution of Trump supporters concerning the January 6 attack.
The Hill reported in August, 2022:
After the FBI conducted a search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence on Monday, Republicans reacted in outrage, with a handful calling for the FBI to be defunded or abolished. South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan (R) wrote on Twitter, “The FBI has proven time and again that it is corrupt to the core. At what point do we abolish the Bureau and start over?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweeted “DEFUND THE FBI!” and is now selling apparel bearing the same slogan.
In July 2023, USA Today reported:
The legal troubles surrounding former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, have made the FBI a common target for 2024 Republican presidential candidates and some current members of the House GOP. After the FBI searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents last year, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA., called to defund the FBI on X, formerly known as Twitter. This position has been reiterated by other members of the House in recent months, including Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, as federal and state investigations focus on Trump and House Republicans investigate Hunter Biden’s business dealings abroad. Some lawmakers have alleged the agency is “weaponized” against conservatives and have called for the Trump-appointed FBI director Christopher Wray to step down.
The discord surrounding the FBI’s actions is further fanning the political flames as the 2024 election draws nearer.
It’s worth noting there is an entire U.S. House of Representatives committee within the Judiciary Committee called the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government formed on Jan 10, 2023.
The weaponization subcommittee, spearheaded by Ohio Representative Jim Jordan (R)—who also presides over the Judiciary Committee—is tasked with probing misuses of federal authority.
This includes investigating potential collusion between federal bodies and private sector entities in stifling conservative viewpoints.
Empowered with extensive authority, the subcommittee can issue subpoenas to law enforcement and national security agencies, extending to matters concerning ongoing criminal investigations.
In its quest to unveil potential political biases within federal agencies, the subcommittee has convened several hearings.
On Feb 9, 2023, a hearing was organized to delve into the purported politicization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the alleged assaults on American civil liberties.
Notable witnesses such as U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), alongside U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MA), were called to testify.
The scrutiny continued with another hearing on July 20, which aimed to dissect the federal government’s involvement in censoring Americans.
This hearing also explored the Missouri v. Biden case and the alleged connivance between Big Tech companies and unruly government agencies in curbing free speech.
Through these hearings, the subcommittee strives to shed light on the intricate web of interactions between the federal government, the private sector, and the citizenry, especially focusing on the implications for conservative voices and the broader discourse on American civil liberties.
