FBI hid extent of anti-Catholic operation despite Wray’s claims, documents show
The FBI’s handling of an alleged anti-Catholic operation during the Biden administration has come under scrutiny, with Senator Chuck Grassley releasing documents that suggest the agency targeted traditional Catholics. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray had previously characterized the matter as limited to a single memo from the FBI’s Richmond office.
In a letter to current FBI Director Kash Patel, Grassley expressed frustration at the lack of transparency surrounding the memo and the agency’s apparent disregard for oversight. Despite Wray’s claims that the memo was a single product, Grassley uncovered at least 13 additional FBI documents and five attachments that referenced “radical traditionalist Catholic” ideology and cited the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The FBI has acknowledged receiving Grassley’s letter but declined to comment further on the matter. Grassley’s findings reveal that the FBI may have relied on biased sources, including the SPLC, in its investigation of traditional Catholics. The agency failed to disclose the existence of a second draft memo on the same topic during Wray’s testimony to lawmakers.
The initial memo, titled “Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology,” sparked backlash and was never published after a whistleblower brought it to light. A second memo drafted by the FBI’s Richmond Field Office repeated the baseless link between traditional Catholicism and violent extremism but was not circulated widely due to public outcry.
The newly released documents show that the Richmond memo was distributed to over 1,000 FBI employees nationwide, raising concerns about the agency’s use of biased sources and misleading representations to Congress. Grassley emphasized the need to restore oversight and transparency within the FBI to ensure fair and just administration of justice.
It is essential to address these issues and uphold the integrity of the FBI to regain public trust. Grassley’s investigation sheds light on potential biases within the agency and highlights the importance of accountability in law enforcement. The FBI’s actions must be scrutinized to prevent further targeting of specific religious groups and ensure equal treatment under the law.
