In a recent development, Republican senators, led by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), engaged in a heated exchange with FBI Director Christopher Wray regarding the controversial FBI memo that targeted traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists. The memo, which has since been retracted by the FBI Richmond field office, drew significant criticism from Republican lawmakers. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and 14 other colleagues have now demanded that the FBI “repair the damage” to its credibility.
The senators have called for a “coherent and complete response” from Director Wray, highlighting the agency’s failures in reviewing the creation of the memo and its compliance with congressional oversight. They accuse the FBI of misleading Congress with limited information and failing to provide requested records. The lawmakers also discovered that critical records related to the memo were permanently deleted by the FBI, further raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
According to the senators, the FBI’s internal review of the Richmond memo was used as an excuse to avoid providing records or responding to congressional inquiries. The agency ignored requests for information from Ranking Members Grassley and Graham, which included correspondence between intelligence analysts involved in drafting the memo and higher-ranking officials. The senators also sought unredacted copies of the Domain Perspective memo and reports alleging links between religious or conservative associations and violent extremism.
Further revelations indicate that the FBI deleted records as soon as the memo became public, obstructing congressional oversight. Deputy Director Paul Abbate ordered the removal of the memo and all references to it from FBI systems. The senators demand an explanation for this order and criticize the FBI for withholding information from the Senate.
Contrary to Director Wray’s claims that the memo was a product of a single field office, the senators argue that other FBI offices had significant contributions to its creation. They point out that the memo, despite its flaws, was approved by multiple layers of FBI bureaucracy, including the Chief Division Counsel and the Special Agent in Charge. This raises concerns about a broader crisis of FBI leadership and the potential weaponization of federal law enforcement against ordinary citizens.
The senators have set a deadline of February 14 for the FBI to provide an explanation and address their concerns. The outcome of this demand for accountability will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the credibility and transparency of the agency.
