WASHINGTON — The FBI is suspending the security clearances of employees who attended the rally before last year’s Capitol riot, according to a prominent Republican congressman.
The alleged punishment is drawing accusations that FBI staffers who aren’t charged with crimes are having their First Amendment rights trampled.
The FBI’s move was described in a Friday letter from the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
“One such targeted employee is [redacted] working in the FBI’s [redacted] who also honorably served in the United States military for over 20 years,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
“[Redacted] has been working for the FBI for more than a decade. According to whistleblowers, while on leave, these FBI employees attended public events in Washington, D.C., with their spouses. We have been told that [redacted] and the other FBI employees did not enter the United States Capitol, have not been charged with any crime, and have not been contacted by law enforcement about their actions.”
It’s unclear how many FBI employees are impacted. Jordan said the Justice Department inspector general “is now examining whether the FBI’s actions violate federal civil service laws.”