Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the FBI, pledged during his confirmation hearing that he would not designate concerned parents as 'domestic terrorists'. Patel made the comment in response to questioning from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) about the potential deployment of FBI agents in schools due to parental concerns over education policies. Hawley highlighted a 2021 memo from Attorney General Merrick Garland directing the FBI to investigate threats against school board members, which followed a since-retracted letter from the National Schools Boards Association (NSBA) comparing irate parents to 'domestic terrorism' threats.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Kash Patel, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation , testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
The comment came during Patel's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., during the hearing probed Patel about deploying agents in schools where parents have expressed concerns about policies. “Another gross abuse, incredible political power brought to bear against U.S. citizens, why?” Sen. Hawley asked. “Because they went to a school board meeting that they’re paying for and asked about what their kids are being taught.”
“Name-calling parents who want to be a part of their child's education as 'hate groups' or 'bigoted' just further exposes what this battle is all about," MFL co-founders Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich said in a statement. "Who fundamentally gets to decide what is taught to our kids in school?"
FBI DOMESTIC TERRORISM PARENTS RIGHTS SCHOOL BOARD MERRICK GARLAND
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