On Thursday, the FBI refuted claims made by Republicans on Capitol Hill that it had fired conservative employees during President Biden’s term.
FBI denies purging conservative employees in letter to Jim Jordan | Fox News
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has sent the FBI numerous letters in which he claims the agency has turned into a tool of the Biden administration and has, among other things, fired conservative personnel due to their political beliefs.
The FBI’s Office of Congressional Affairs associate director Jill Tyson reacted on Thursday with her own letter. She responded to the purging allegation by stating that the FBI “has strong procedures in place to promote accountability when an FBI employee strays from their obligations—including employee actions that create the appearance of political, social, or other bias.” Tyson also responded to Jordan’s claims that the FBI was biased in its enforcement of conservatives.
She said it is vital to stress that claims against one or a few workers do not indicate a widespread political prejudice or a lack of objectivity by the 38,000 FBI personnel who conduct their jobs objectively, meticulously, and with professionalism. The FBI’s motivations and actions to carry out its mission, which represents our staff’s aggregate wisdom and work, are not fairly called into question by such charges.
When Republicans regain control of the House on January 3, Jordan is set to take over as its chairman. He has previously asked for the voluntary testimony of FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and others before the committee. However, he might subpoena them to appear in the upcoming Congress. In Jordan’s words, the White House “colluded with the National School Boards Association to manufacture a pretext for the use of federal law enforcement authorities against parents.”
As a result, whistleblowers shared information that the Biden administration “misused federal criminal and counterterrorism resources to target concerned parents at school board meetings.” Jordan wrote to Wray last month, saying, “The FBI is not exempt from openness orabove accountability for its conduct.”
Republicans on the committee have stated theirintention to continue looking into the politicization and bias at the FBI, possibly even intothe 118th Congress.
