FBI whistleblowers will testify on ‘abuses of power’ by agency at public ‘Weaponization’ hearing
Three FBI officials will testify about alleged “abuses of power” by FBI leaders — ranging from discrimination against conservatives to inflation of domestic terrorism statistics — at a public whistleblower hearing by the House Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Thursday, DailyMail.com has exclusive learned.
Rep. Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and head of the select committee, has secured the personal testimony of suspended FBI Special Agents Garret O’Boyle and Steve Friend, as well as former FBI State Operations Specialist Marcus Allen. President of Empower Oversight Tristian Leavitt will also testify.
The hearing will be held at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday and will focus on the “abuse of power” witnessed by the former officials. According to a well-known source, they will have the opportunity to describe in detail how they were “retaliated” by the FBI.
The O’Boyle and Friend participated in a closed-door transcribed interview conducted by the select committee in February.
According to notes from the interview, the former agents specifically expressed concern over instructions from FBI leadership that they focus on pursuing investigations into “domestic violent extremism” and ignore standard investigative procedures in Jan. 6 cases.
FBI Director Chris Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland accused by whistleblowers of politicized actions against conservatives
Steven Friend’s security clearance (right) was revoked last September after he raised concerns with his superiors
Rep. Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and head of the select committee, has secured the personal testimony of former FBI special agents
In addition, the former officials told the commission they had been ordered to continue investigations into child malpractice cases on Jan. 6 because they “were no longer a priority.”
Specifically, the former agents accuse the FBI of inflating statistics on “domestic violent extremism” to fit the Biden administration’s political narrative that extremism is on the rise across the country.
“The manipulative record-keeping practice creates false and misleading crime statistics, which constitute false official federal statements,” Friend wrote in an affidavit.
“Instead of hundreds of investigations stemming from an isolated incident at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, FBI and DOJ officials are pointing to a significant increase in domestic violent extremism and terrorism in the United States.”
Friend’s security clearance was revoked last September after he raised concerns with his superiors, which he described in an affidavit as clear agency retaliation against him. O’Boyle’s clearance has also been taken.
Allen, who has not yet sat before the select committee, is expected to present new evidence to lawmakers on Thursday.
The hearing comes after Republicans released a 1,000-page report on “FBI and DOJ Politicization” last November.
The report contained information about revelations from 14 whistleblowers who revealed that the FBI leadership displayed a “political bias” against conservatives, manipulated domestic violence statistics for extremism for “political ends” and downplayed the Hunter Biden investigation — among other things. alleged abuse of power.
One of the biggest allegations leveled at the FBI is that the agency has worked to coerce conservative employees.
At the first select committee hearing in February, lawmakers specifically addressed that issue.
Jordan said the hearing was held to shed light on revelations by “good, brave FBI agents who are willing to come forward and tell us the truth.”
GOP Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., testified as prominent select committee witnesses.
FBI Director Wray said at a congressional hearing last month that the FBI has been “unjustly criticized.”
Jordan said the hearing was held to shed light on revelations by “good, brave FBI agents who are willing to come forward and tell us the truth.”
The senators — who both led the charge on exposing internal DOJ and FBI issues — detailed whistleblower complaints they felt were important enough to expose.
“It is clear to me that the Justice Department and the FBI are suffering from a political infection that, if left undefeated, will cause the American people to no longer trust these storied institutions,” Grassley said at the hearing.
Johnson and Grassley also wrote to the FBI last fall demanding that the agency reinstate Friend’s security clearance because he is protected by the Whistleblower Protection Act.
“Accordingly, the FBI must immediately cease the disciplinary action it is actively taking to punish Special Agent Friend for his protected whistleblowing activity,” they wrote.
The FBI has rejected allegations that the agency is “politicized.”
Wray said at a congressional hearing last month that the FBI has been “unfairly criticized” and that its agents work hard on behalf of the American people.
Democrats denounced the hearing, and more generally the select committee, as an attempt by Republicans to “showcase conspiracy theories.”