Contrary to Attorney General Merrick Garland’s claims, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is accusing the Federal Bureau of Investigation of spying on American citizens by infiltrating churches. The senator’s accusations came in an explosive interview on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” in which he criticized the bureau for utilizing its authority to prey on law-abiding citizens and people of faith.
Josh Hawley:
"The FBI did in fact try to infiltrate churches. The Attorney General misled Congress. And this administration is treating Christians like criminals." pic.twitter.com/BlMWyVkZMJ
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 12, 2023
“They regard churches apparently as the enemy and church-going Americans as akin to terrorists,” he said of the FBI.
Hawley’s accusations stem from a recent exchange he had with Garland before the Senate Judiciary Committee, in which the senator asked whether the FBI was infiltrating churches and spying on Americans. Garland denied the allegations at the time, but Hawley claims that recent revelations prove otherwise.
“Listen, he knew at the time that he couldn’t answer the question because it looks so bad. He knew that it looked beyond the pale, and it is beyond the pale, Sean, for the FBI to be going into any church in America and trying to spy on Americans, and now we know that’s exactly what they were doing. They are infiltrating churches. They are trying to spy on us,” he stated.
“And, yeah, the attorney general sat right there and told me, no, we don’t do that, and now we know they do, in fact, target churches, and they have been,” the Missouri senator continued. “There’s got to be accountability for this, Sean. He’s got to be called on the carpet. The House needs to call him. The Senate should call him, too. But the Democrats will never do it.”
Hawley’s comments have sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Americans expressing their concerns about the government’s apparent disregard for privacy and religious freedom.
While the FBI has not yet responded to Senator Hawley’s accusations, many Americans are calling for an investigation into the agency’s practices as this accusation highlights growing concerns about government surveillance and the erosion of civil liberties. Some are even calling for Garland’s resignation, claiming that he lied to the senator during their exchange.
It remains to be seen what action, if any, will be taken to hold the FBI accountable for its alleged actions. Either way, Hawley seems to mean business in his demand for answers.
On April 11, he sent an open letter to Garland asking him to take accountability for his “false testimony” regarding the “unconscionable assault” of citizens by the FBI and the Justice Department as a whole.
“Your Department has decided to turn Catholic congregations into front organizations for the FBI, and when asked about it, you’ve decided to fudge the truth before Congress,” he wrote.
