A coalition of conservative groups and individuals has come together to demand transparency from the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI regarding the agency’s alleged pattern of religious discrimination and dishonesty under the Biden administration. The groups, led by Advancing American Freedom (AAF), are seeking documents that detail the FBI’s surveillance of Catholic groups in America and its handling of the controversial ‘Richmond Memo,’ which labeled traditionalist Catholic groups as potential ‘violent extremists.’ The campaign began after the previous requests to the Biden administration were reportedly obstructed.
This renewed effort under the Trump administration includes a broader scope, with AAF and other signers now also requesting records of any communications that might have directed the destruction of documents relevant to their prior requests. This comes after a highly controversial FBI memo sparked significant public scrutiny, with the agency claiming that an assessment of ‘radical-traditionalist Catholics’ as potential extremists was a single product created by a field office. However, subsequent investigations by the House Judiciary Committee revealed that multiple field offices in Portland and Los Angeles contributed to the creation of this assessment.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has raised concerns about the expansion of this pattern, stating that at least 13 additional FBI documents and five attachments used the term ‘radical traditionalist Catholic’ within the context of the FBI’s assessments. He argues that these actions demonstrate a systemic issue in the FBI’s approach to religious groups and that the agency’s use of law enforcement capabilities to intrude on First Amendment rights is more widespread than initially admitted. The groups claim that these findings contradict former FBI Director Christopher Wray’s earlier testimony, which downplayed the scope of the issue by asserting that the Richmond memo was a single office product.
AFF argues that the Biden administration has been uncooperative, failing to provide the requested documents and even possibly deleting them. They cite new evidence, such as the discovery of additional records by Senator Grassley, to support their claim that the FBI’s actions were not isolated. According to Marc Wheat, general counsel for AAF, the groups are hopeful that the Trump administration’s commitment to eradicating anti-Christian bias, as outlined in an executive order, will lead to transparency and accountability for the FBI. The groups are also seeking to hold the DOJ accountable for its legal responsibility to enforce the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) law.
Other prominent figures and groups involved in the campaign include former Republican Senator Rick Santorum and the Young America’s Foundation. The issue has drawn attention from media outlets, with Fox News Digital reporting on the developments and seeking comments from the DOJ and FBI on the matter. The political implications of this case highlight the ongoing tensions regarding religious freedom and government overreach, with conservative groups demanding action and accountability from the current administration.