Beginning in the 1950s, my father was an FBI agent with a legal background who felt he was fighting dangerous criminals. I’m glad he didn’t live to see that organization weaponized to rain down retributions on political opponents, news agencies that won’t spin the news a certain way, and an unthinkable range of citizens, government officials and law firms that dare offer criticism.
The first rule in an authoritarian playbook: impose bogus FBI investigations on people and news organizations that cause anger, stifling them in a cocoon of legal hassles. According to an NPR report, the list of targets for federal investigations now exceeds 100 – including five former military members of Congress exercising their free speech by reminding service members that they have a moral obligation to disobey illegal orders. This principle was well established at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II.
Lawsuits for political retaliation have been filed against the governor of Wisconsin, the state’s attorney general, the mayor of Minneapolis, and the mayor of St. Paul – all for questioning ICE actions in their state. Kash Patel placed Miles Taylor, former director of DHS, on an FBI “enemy list” for criticizing DHS actions. The only enemy list the FBI should have is for proven criminals still at large – not people expressing an opinion.
This must end. In a democracy, the FBI must never become the partisan weapon of the president.
Connie Durand
Durango