{"id":81321,"date":"2023-02-09T18:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T23:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/gop-created-panels-first-hearing-on-weaponization-of-government-draws-fire-from-democrats\/"},"modified":"2023-02-09T18:05:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T23:05:00","slug":"gop-created-panels-first-hearing-on-weaponization-of-government-draws-fire-from-democrats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/gop-created-panels-first-hearing-on-weaponization-of-government-draws-fire-from-democrats\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP-created panel\u2019s first hearing on \u2018weaponization\u2019 of government draws fire from Democrats"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gabbard told the panel her own Google Ads account was temporarily shut down during her presidential campaign and then reinstated with \u201cno explanation\u201d or apology.\u00a0<\/p>\n

George Washington University Law Center Professor Jonathan Turley testified about the threat to free speech from government officials overstepping their bounds.<\/p>\n

He said if an official calls an employer to get someone fired over speech, \u201cthat is government action [and] that is a violation of the First Amendment.\u201d Because online speech has become \u201cmuch of what is the marketplace of ideas,\u201d this relationship is one of the \u201cmost serious threats against free speech.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

There was also a discussion of allegations that the federal government targeted parents who protested at school board meetings. Last week, Jordan issued subpoenas to the FBI, the DOJ, and the Education Department related to these accusations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rep. Elise Stefanik said the FBI is \u201cillegally targeting the American people [and] parents\u201d and equating them with \u201cdomestic terrorists.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Democratic committee members pushed back against some of their Republican colleagues and some of the panelists. Several, including Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, said the FBI did not target parents but instead investigated threats of violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Plaskett also questioned the usefulness of the subcommittee, which she said seems like \u201clittle more than a political stunt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

She said \u201ccongressional oversight can serve to protect \u2026 integrity,\u201d but that Republicans want people to believe these agencies are \u201cpart of a deep state cabal\u201d when they are simply \u201cdoing their best to protect us from sliding into chaos.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Democrats, Plaskett added, will not allow Republicans to prevent \u201congoing legitimate investigations into President Trump, any other president, and others in his orbit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jordan said in subsequent hearings several FBI whistleblowers will address the weaponization of the agency. He said they are expected to testify on the bureau\u2019s leadership, which he said is \u201crotten at its core.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The whistleblowers, he said, have information showing \u201cthe FBI accepts private user information from Facebook without the user\u2019s consent.\u201d Others are expected to testify about being fired after filling out anonymous surveys from their managers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Story continues below)<\/b><\/p>\n

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Tyler Arnold is a staff reporter for the National Catholic Register. He previously worked at The Center Square and has been published in a variety of outlets, including The Associated Press, National Review, The American Conservative and The Federalist.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n