FBI placed undercover agent in Catholic parishes to monitor for domestic extremism, House GOP says

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee said Monday they have evidence the FBI relied on an «at least one undercover agent» to produce an internal assessment about supposed «radical-traditionalist Catholics» posing a threat of racially motivated violent extremism in the U.S.

The assessment, which originated in the FBI’s Richmond field office, was leaked by a whistleblower, leading to immense backlash over the federal law enforcement agency’s alleged targeting of Catholics as violent domestic extremists. The FBI ultimately retracted the assessment following the criticism, pointing to the fact it did «not meet the exacting standards of the FBI.»

READ MORE: «FBI retracts document calling ‘radical-traditionalist Catholics’ a domestic terrorism threat»

«Based on the limited information produced by the FBI to the Committee, we now know that the FBI relied on at least one undercover agent to produce its analysis, and that the FBI proposed that its agents engage in outreach to Catholic parishes to develop sources among the clergy and church leadership to inform on Americans practicing their faith,» a letter House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday reads. «The FBI also expressed an interest in ‘leverag[ing] existing sources and/or initiat[ing] Type 5 Assessments to develop new sources with the placement and access’ to report on suspicious activity.»

Jordan’s letter also accuses the FBI of poor cooperation amid the committee’s attempts at oversight following news the agency may have been targeting Catholic parishes. Therefore, Republicans on the Judiciary Committee will be using their subpoena power to try and compel the FBI’s full cooperation, according to Jordan’s letter.

«We have repeatedly sought information from the FBI relating to a January 23, 2023 document generated by the Richmond Field Office,» Jordan’s letter noted. «On February 16, 2023, we first wrote to you requesting documents and information to inform our oversight. After receiving no response, we reiterated our outstanding requests in a subsequent letter dated March 20, 2023. On March 23, 2023, we received a standard and partial response consisting of only 18 pages — many with significant redactions … that prevents the Committee from fully assessing the content and context of the documents.»

«The documents produced to date show how the FBI sought to enlist Catholic houses of worship as potential sources to monitor and report on their parishioners,» Jordan continued in his letter, concluding that based on this information, it has become «clear» the committee «must possess all responsive material without redactions.»

The National Desk (TND) reached out to the FBI for comment, but did not immediately hear back. If a response is received, this story will be updated.