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Republican senators challenged Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco over a new memo from Attorney General Merrick Garland to Justice Department employees who discussed federal intervention in state and local school board meetings.
The memo condemned violence against public officials, and while GOP senators agreed with the sentiment, they expressed concern about other language used by Garland in reference to “bullying” and “Harassment” which they said was vague and problematic as it could potentially lead to First Amendment violations.
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“Tell me where the line is with parents voicing their concerns,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Wondering what kind of behavior might warrant federal intervention.
Hawley, who called the memo “bad” and “dangerous,” said parents sometimes wait hours to ask questions about school policies regarding mask wearing and critical race theory. He asked what the Justice Department memo means when it refers to harassment and bullying, saying these are vague terms that will have a chilling effect on attendance at school board meetings.
The senator asked if Monaco was aware of a point in American history when the FBI was involved in school board meetings.
“It’s not happening,” she replied.
Monaco said the attorney general’s note made it clear that the violence was inappropriate but that “heated debate” was allowed.
Earlier in the hearing, however, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Noted that Garland’s memo came days after the National School Boards Association sent a letter to President Biden asking the administration to ” consider using the PATRIOT law against domestic terrorism as well. as other measures to tackle what he called “threats or actual acts of violence against our school districts.”
Discussing past examples, the NSBA referred to a number of cases of violence, but also cited a case where someone “prompted the board to request a suspension due to opposition. to Critical Race Theory, “and explained how in states like New Jersey. and Ohio, “anti-mask supporters incite chaos at board meetings.”
“Is it domestic extremism for a parent to defend the best interests of their child? Cotton asked.
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Acting Executive Director and CEO of NSBA Chip Slaven called Garland’s memo a “strong message to individuals with violent intentions who focus on the chaos, disruption of our public schools and the creation of board gaps. schools and the parents, students and the communities they serve ”.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Who was unable to ask questions during the hearing, approached Monaco after the hearing was over. Their conversation was videotaped.
“The implication of all of this is that you all expect parents who don’t take the Progressive agenda to be violent,” Blackburn said, stating that “that’s not always what you say, it’s what people perceive you are saying “.
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“The message you send to parents, to individuals is that you accept whatever we say or we won’t be able to protect you,” Blackburn added, “and I think it’s a very dangerous place.”
“I hear you on the misperception,” Monaco said, but insisted that the FBI would only investigate crimes and that the memo is about “violence, and that’s it.”
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