The Biden administration and Attorney General Merrick Grland used federal measures to try to restrict the free expression of parents who were protesting the school boards’ inability to speak out after being labeled domestic terrorists. However, Republicans of the House Judiciary Committee brought Garland to justice in a heated hearing. This was not reported by ABC, CBS or NBC.
Instead of informing their viewers about the hearing in which other matters were discussed as well, ABC’s World News Tonightcomplaining about Democratic Senators Joe Manchin, WV (AZ), and Kyrsten Synema (AZ), not supporting their party. CBS Evening NewsThe talk was about nurses being married. Und NBC Nightly NewsOne minute 21 seconds spent fawning on a TikTok dog that is famous for his sleeping habits. They also pointed out that Congress had voted to treat former Trump adviser Steve Bannon with contempt.
“Also breaking tonight, Attorney General Merrick Garland is in the hot seat all day on Capitol Hill, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee quizzing the AG over his recent memo targeting parents of school students over comments at school board meetings,” announced Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier on Report Special
Adding: “The Attorney General saying his Justice Department defends those free-speech rights and that the parents are not domestic terrorists.”
Correspondent David Spunt highlighted a couple of Republicans on the committee holding Garland’s feet to the fire (Click “expand”):
REP. JIM JORDAN, R-OH: Your memo, Mr. AttorneyGeneral, is what I believe was the final straw. This was, I believe, the trigger for a tremendous awakening. It is only just beginning.
(…)
REP. STEVE CHABOT (R-OH): Not in a million years did we dream that one day we’d see the Justice Department treat American parents as domestic terrorists.
“Attorney general Merrick Garland in the hot seat answering multiple questions from Republicans about his October 4 memo that directs ‘the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with each United States attorney to convene meetings […] in each federal judicial district within 30 days of the issuance of this memorandum,’” Spunt reported, reading from the memo.
But he also noted: “[Garland]This memo of one page is intended to warn those who may threaten violence. The memo does use the phrase ‘other forms of intimidation and harassment’ without definition.”
In his own defense, Garland told the committee that he couldn’t “imagine any circumstance in which the PATRIOT Act would be used in the circumstances of parents complaining about their children, nor can I imagine a circumstance where they would be labeled as domestic terrorism.”
ABC came the closest to admitting Garland was in a hearing Thursday as anchor David Muir and chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl noted his comments about Bannon being held in contempt (click “expand”):
MUIR – It is now up to Steve Bannon’s Justice Department to decide whether they will prosecute him for criminal contempt. Everybody must read everything the Attorney General said today. There weren’t many.
KARL – No. And David, Congress doesn’t have any power to prosecute. It is up to the Justice Department or the attorney general to decide. Attorney General Merrick Garland wouldn’t say today what he is going to do, saying only the DOJ, quote, “will apply the facts and the law and make a decision consistent with the principles of prosecution.”
According to Muir, “everyone” was “studying” Garland’s “every word” but he refused to share where the AG spoke and even seemed to suggest he didn’t say much. Karl said that Garland had stated anything in a written statement, and not as testimony.
Bombshell reporting also was ignored by networks The Washington Free BeaconThis is what the Biden found White House had “collaborated”The National School Boards Association collaborated with us to create the letter that calls protesting parents domestic terrorists.
“The country’s largest school board association collaborated with the Biden White House before sending a controversial letter calling on the FBI to investigate parents as potential domestic terrorists, according to previously unreported emails,” wrote investigative reporter Chuck Ross.
A crucial detail was left out of a series of recent events by the broadcast networks.
Because of lucrative sponsorships, the Attorney General did not have to be held responsible for trying to limit the freedom of speech of protesting parents. DoveABC News ProgressiveCBS: Liberty MutualNBC.
Below is the transcript. Click “expand to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
October 21, 2021
Eastern, 6:03:00
BRET BAIER He stated that his Justice Department protects free speech and the parents are not terrorists.
However, this issue along with other issues could lead to some very explosive moments at the hearing. David Spunt, correspondent from Capitol Hill has a great story. David, good evening.
DAVID SPUNT : Bret, it’s a great evening. Attorney General Merrick Garland will be speaking tonight on several topics that have been hot since January 6.ThVoting rights. School board meetings are one of many recurring themes that have been recurrent throughout the day.
[Cuts to video]
The hearing ended minutes after its start.
[Members of Congress arguing, crosstalk]
SPUNT: Republicans wanted to display a video of school board meetings. Democrats disagreed and said that there is no rule that says video presentations must be made 48 hours in advance.
Attorney general Merrick Garland in the hot seat answering multiple questions from Republicans about his October 4 memo that directs “the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with each United States attorney to convene meetings […] in each federal judicial district within 30 days of the issuance of this memorandum.”
REP. JIM JORDAN, R-OH: Your memo, Mr. AttorneyGeneral, is what I believe was the final straw. It was the spark that ignited a tremendous awakening.
SPUNT: Five days after the National School Board, the memo was published[s]Association writes to President Biden concerning the growing threats made by parents to school officials. Writing, “these heinous actions could be the equivalent of a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.”
REP. STEVE CHABOT (R-OH): Not in a million years did we dream that one day we’d see the Justice Department treat American parents as domestic terrorists.
SPUNT: But Garland said his memo doesn’t use the words “domestic terrorism” or “PATRIOT Act.”
AG MERRICK GARLAND
SPUNT. He claims that the memo of one page is intended to warn those who might threaten violence. Without a definition, “other forms” of intimidation or harassment are used in the memo.
(…)
