Jordan: FBI Has ‘Refocused’ Away From ‘Targeting Citizens for Their Beliefs’

This week, FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Judiciary Committee, sparking headlines for fiery exchanges as he defended the bureau from Democrats’ attacks. On Wednesday, Patel appeared before House members, during which House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had his own memorable moments.

During his opening statement at Wednesday’s hearing, Jordan focused in part on how the FBI under then-Director Christopher Wray had been targeting Catholics as well as parents at local school board meetings.

Jordan remarked that Patel had “ended the weaponization of the FBI” with “no more spying on parents at school board meetings, no more predawn raids on pro-life Catholics, no more retaliation against whistleblowers, and he’s also given us information Chris Wray didn’t. Maybe said better: He’s given us information that Chris Wray wouldn’t.”

“Remember when Chris Wray told us that the Richmond (Virginia) field office memorandum on pro-life Catholics was just a one-off? Turns out, he wasn’t being square with us then, either,” Jordan later added, also mentioning how multiple other FBI offices were involved and how members of Congress “learned from Director Patel the FBI actually surveilled a priest.”

During the previous session of Congress, Jordan frequently took issue with then-Director Wray over the targeting of Americans, often going toe-to-toe with him in committee hearings. Jordan even threatened to hold Wray in contempt. An FBI memo also suggested that Wray lied under oath about not targeting Catholics.

Earlier this year, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, revealed that there were more anti-Catholic documents from the FBI, and he also spoke to the role of the Southern Poverty Law Center in potentially creating targets for the FBI to investigate.

As Jordan questioned Patel on Wednesday, the FBI director made clear that the bureau is no longer engaged in such tactics when it comes to weaponization against Americans.

When asked by Jordan about a series of behaviors the FBI had previously engaged in under prior directors, Patel answered in the negative. Patel was asked the following:

“Is the FBI still spying on parents at school board meetings?”

“Is the FBI still targeting Catholics?”

“Is the FBI still spying on President Trump?”

“Is the FBI still censoring Americans?”

“Is the FBI still targeting Americans for shopping at Cabela’s or purchasing Bibles?”

“Is the FBI still targeting Americans who are pro-life?”

“Is the FBI still cooking the books on crime data?”

“Is the FBI still purging agents for conservative viewpoints?”

“Is the FBI still labeling the Betsy Ross flag, the flag of the American Revolution, a hate symbol?”

The FBI under Patel’s leadership also appears to be more willing to work with Congress. While Wray’s FBI provided 19 pages to the committee regarding the Catholic memo, Patel’s FBI has turned over 750 documents on the matter.

“Why would Chris Wray hide information from this committee?” Jordan asked, with Patel indicating he did not know and that the chairman would have to ask Wray himself. “You think maybe it was because they were—the FBI was—spying on a priest, trying to get him to break the priest’s penitent confidence that exists?” Jordan continued, noting he “would love to” have Wray answer for this.

Jordan further emphasized these points to The Daily Signal: “Director Patel has refocused the bureau on crime fighting instead of targeting citizens for their beliefs,” he shared, adding that “it’s strange that Democrats are upset that Director Patel is delivering the lowest murder rate in modern history, keeping drugs off the streets, and empowering law enforcement to do their job.”

The chairman also spoke about “real America” when it comes to Patel’s work as FBI director, noting, “Real America appreciates the work he’s done for this country with President [Donald] Trump.”

Patel also had a fiery moment when speaking during the hearing with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., whom he called out for his “bulls—” when discussing the Epstein files. He also notably went up against Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., as well as Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-Md.

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