A suspended FBI agent released a book that backs many conservative assertions that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is increasingly partisan in its actions. In particular, Stephen Friend accused the agency of politicizing its response to the Jan. 6, 2021 protests.
The information was a bombshell for many conservative activists. Friend’s allegations have been defended by a number of other former FBI agents. More than two dozen former agents backed his statements in September 2022.
The agent stated that the agency has changed considerably over the last several years. In particular, Friend cited the investigation into the events of Jan. 6.
He stated that there were efforts by both the FBI and the Department of Justice to “manipulate statistics and exaggerate the nationwide threat of domestic terrorism.” In particular, he alleged that this was done to target those who supported former President Donald Trump.
The @FBI National Press Office’s default position is to LIE. Period. None of the people working there have ANY idea what goes on in the field. They aren’t Agents and they don’t work cases. They have never seen the work. They just “protect the brand” of https://t.co/z4UNrtK8Gw… https://t.co/TCiGDc3H4G
— Kyle Seraphin (@KyleSeraphin) February 26, 2023
The recent testimony lines up with recent accusations by conservatives that federal law enforcement has shown structural biases. According to critics, this includes a number of investigations in which Republican causes received different treatment.
In particular, law enforcement has labeled a number of conservative causes and activists more likely to commit domestic terrorism. A recently withdrawn FBI memo suggested that traditional Catholics may be linked to domestic extremism.
Friend is not the first public figure to back allegations of politicized law enforcement. In 2022, two senators accused the FBI of falsely labeling the Hunter Biden laptop story ‘disinformation.’
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) demanded an interview about the false statements made in a report on the laptop owned by the president’s son.
The senators wrote to the FBI intelligence analyst that was in charge of the Hunter Biden situation, stating that the FBI’s bias surrounding the laptop was “to falsely attack our Biden investigation as advancing Russian disinformation.”
Friend remains suspended by the FBI, and the agency and Department of Justice released a statement stating that the two offices “will never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment activity.”
