source: Project Veritas
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) questioned FBI Director, Christopher Wray, about a recent Project Veritas Report surrounding a document which outlines FBI guidelines for identifying “Militia Violent Extremists.”
- Wray was attending the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to answer questions about the Bureau’s recent conduct.
- In the leaked document, the Betsy Ross Flag, Gadsden Flag, and other common American symbols were portrayed as potentially used by these alleged “extremists.”
- Ted Cruz to Wray: “I am deeply concerned that the FBI and the Department of Justice have become thoroughly politicized….Yesterday, it was reported that Project Veritas had obtained a copy of a FBI training material, which listed various symbols and themes, which in the FBI’s estimation, were indicative of, quote, ‘Militia Violent Extremism.’ Now, these symbols weren’t things like the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazi Party, which naturally would be symbols of that, but instead they include rather astonishingly, patriotic symbols of our nation and our history. Included on this list is the Betsy Ross flag.”
In the leaked document, the Betsy Ross Flag, Gadsden Flag, and other common American symbols were portrayed as potential materials used by these alleged “extremists.”
References to US Constitution’s Second Amendment, using the abbreviation “2A” is also included on the list.
Before Cruz asked Wray to respond, he gave a lengthy statement about the Project Veritas Report:
I hear regularly from FBI agents and from professionals at the Department of Justice who are dismayed that our law enforcement has been weaponized and politicized, rather than remaining apolitical, as it has been for the history of our country. Yesterday, it was reported that Project Veritas had obtained a copy of an FBI training material, which listed various symbols and themes, which in the FBI’s estimation, were indicative of, quote, ‘Militia Violent Extremism.’ Now, these symbols weren’t things like the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazi Party, which naturally would be symbols of that, but instead they include rather astonishingly, patriotic symbols of our nation and our history. Included on this list is the Betsy Ross flag. Now, that is fairly remarkable that the Betsy Ross flag, in the FBI’s indication, is indicative of Militia Violent Extremism because, among other people who have been publicly alongside the Betsy Ross flag, we have President Barack Obama, who was sworn-in directly underneath the Betsy Ross flags. But, it’s not just President Obama, we also have President Biden, who was sworn-in under Betsy Ross flags. It’s not just the Betsy Ross flag. Also on this list is the Gadsden flag as a symbol of violent extremism. Now, the State of Virginia has a license plate for the Gadsden flag, as do many other states. I think people would be astonished to find that having that license plate, the FBI indicates that you’re a violent extremist.
Senator Ted Cruz
FBI Director Wray indicated that he wasn’t aware of that “specific document.”
Well Senator, I’m not familiar with the particular document that you have behind you and I’m not in the practice of trying to comment on documents I haven’t recognized, but I will tell you that when we put out intelligence products, including ones that reference symbols, which we do across a wide variety of contexts, we usually make great pains- take great pains to put caveats and warnings in the document that make clear that a symbol alone is not considered evidence of violent extremism
Wray
From Veritas:
Leaked document is labelled as “Unclassified/Law Enforcement Sensitive” that is for “FBI Internal Use Only.”
Under the “Symbols” category of the document, “2A” is listed with the following explanation: “MVEs justify their existence with the Second Amendment, due to the mention of a ‘well regulated Militia,’ as well as the right to bear arms.”
“Revolutionary War imagery” such as the “Gadsden Flag” and the “Betsy Ross Flag” are cited in the document under “Commonly Referenced Historical Imagery or Quotes.”
[WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aug. 2, 2022] Project Veritas released a newly leaked document today provided by an FBI whistleblower, which shows how the Bureau classifies American citizens it deems to be potential “Militia Violent Extremists” [MVEs].In the document, the FBI cites symbols, images, phrases, events, and individuals that agents should look out for when identifying alleged domestic terrorists.
The “Unclassified/Law Enforcement Sensitive” document says it is for “FBI Internal Use Only.”
Of note, under the “Symbols” section, is a prominent citation of the Second Amendment, where it explains that “MVEs justify their existence with the Second Amendment, due to the mention of a ‘well regulated Militia,’ as well as the right to bear arms.”
Right below that, under the “Commonly Referenced Historical Imagery and Quotes” section, Revolutionary War images such as the Gadsden Flag and the Betsy Ross Flag are listed. Each flag displayed in the document comes with a brief description of what it means.
Under the “Common Phrases and References” section of the leaked document, Ashli Babbitt is cited as a person that MVEs consider to be a Martyr.
The same document also refers to Ruby Ridge, Waco, and even Timothy McVeigh, tying in traditional American ideas and symbols with radical and/or violent events in the past.
About Project Veritas
James O’Keefe established Project Veritas in 2010 as a non-profit journalism enterprise to continue his undercover reporting work. Today, Project Veritas investigates and exposes corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud, and other misconduct in both public and private institutions to achieve a more ethical and transparent society and to engage in litigation to: protect, defend and expand human and civil rights secured by law, specifically First Amendment rights including promoting the free exchange of ideas in a digital world; combat and defeat censorship of any ideology; promote truthful reporting; and defend freedom of speech and association issues including the right to anonymity. O’Keefe serves as the CEO and Chairman of the Board so that he can continue to lead and teach his fellow journalists, as well as protect and nurture the Project Veritas culture.
Project Veritas is a registered 501(c)3 organization. Project Veritas does not advocate specific resolutions to the issues raised through its investigations.
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