In this episode of Try to Control Your Shock and Amazement…
As we continue to learn more about the mistreatment of Jan. 6 defendants, many of whom have been held in violation of their constitutional rights — regardless of guilt or innocence — additional behind-the-scene accounts of just how badly their rights were infringed and continue to be disregarded have surfaced.
As reported by John Solomon on his Just the News, a suspended FBI agent says he and other agents were listed “as affiants on search and arrest warrant affidavits for subjects” whom they “have never investigated or even interviewed.” The whistleblower reported to the Office of Special Counsel, writes Solomon, that he believes the bureau and Justice Department are violating the constitutional rights of Jan. 6 defendants, falsifying statistics on domestic extremism, and misusing SWAT teams to make misdemeanor arrests, according to a copy of the complaint. Here’s more:
Special Agent Stephen M. Friend, who works for the FBI in Florida and serves as a SWAT team member, told the main federal whistleblower office in Washington he had an “exemplary” work record since he joined the bureau in 2014 and even won awards but was suspended in recent days after he began raising concerns about the FBI’s and DOJ’s conduct in the Jan. 6 investigation
“I believed the investigations were inconsistent with FBI procedure and resulted in the violation of citizens’ Sixth and Eighth Amendment rights,” Friend wrote. “I added that many of my colleagues expressed similar concerns to me but had not vocalized their objections to FBI Executive Management.”
“Shockingly,” the FBI national press office didn’t respond to a request for comment sent on Friday.
Friend said one of his many concerns is the FBI’s use of SWAT teams to arrest Jan. 6 defendants facing misdemeanor charges, violating the bureau’s Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, and creating a potentially unsafe encounter.
I responded that it was inappropriate to use an FBI SWAT team to arrest a subject for misdemeanor offenses and opined that the subject would likely face extended detainment and biased jury pools in Washington D.C. I suggested alternatives such as the issuance of a court summons or utilizing surveillance groups to determine an optimal, safe time for a local sheriff deputy to contact the subjects and advise them about the existence of the arrest warrant.
The seriousness of the constitutional violations cannot be overstated, here. SWAT teams arrested Jan. 6 protesters on misdemeanor charges who were then thrown into jail for extended periods of time with the FBI’s full knowledge that many would face biased jury pools.
I’m generally loath to make comparisons to Stalinist Russia or Nazi Germany, but how much closer can we get before the attack on the fundamental freedoms of the United States really hits the fan and crosses the Rubicon?
It gets worse.
Friend said he was assigned 36 Jan. 6 investigations for Florida alone, notes Solomon, and that one consequence of the data manipulation is that agents in field offices across the country are being listed as affiants for search and arrest warrants for subjects they didn’t actually investigate.
There are active criminal investigations of J6 subjects in which I am listed as the ‘Case Agent,’ but have not done any investigative work. Additionally, my supervisor has not approved any paperwork within the file. J6 Task Force members are serving as Affiants on search and arrest warrant affidavits for subjects whom I have never investigated or even interviewed but am listed as a Case Agent.
And really worse.
Friend said agents were told to deprioritize other investigations of serious crimes like child sex exploitation.
I was also told that child sexual abuse material investigations were no longer an FBI priority and should be referred to local law enforcement agencies.
Roll that around in your brain for a second. Arguably, the most chilling part is the weaponization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice against conservative America is real — and it could not be more ominous.
The Bottom Line
The only way to stop the leftist attack on the United States Constitution — and America as we know it — in its insane tracks is to regain control of both chambers of Congress and recapture the White House. The latter will require uniting the Republican Party behind the candidate most capable of getting the job accomplished.
If there was ever a time to prioritize conservative principles over any one candidate, that time is now.
2024: Don’t screw it up.