FBI provided Congress with documents on alleged “weaponization” under the Biden administration following a subpoena from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan. Documents include records related to Merrick Garland’s school board memo, a retracted memo targeting Catholics, and FACE Act investigations. New FBI leadership under Director Kash Patel emphasizes commitment to transparency.
FBI Delivers Documents Following Congressional Pressure
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has delivered documents to Congress related to several controversial matters that House Republicans have been investigating as potential examples of weaponization of federal law enforcement. The documents were provided following a subpoena from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, who has been pursuing information about these matters for months. The release includes materials related to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s school board memorandum, a retracted memo targeting Catholics, and investigations conducted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
This document transfer represents a notable change in the FBI’s approach to congressional oversight under new leadership. FBI Assistant Director Marshall Yates emphasized the bureau’s commitment to working with Congress in a letter accompanying the documents. The transfer comes amid longstanding tensions between Republican lawmakers and the FBI’s previous leadership under former Director Christopher Wray, whom critics accused of stonewalling legitimate oversight efforts.
FBI hands over Biden-era “weaponization” scandal documents to Jim Jordan https://t.co/x4YDVNTms5
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) March 18, 2025
New Leadership Prioritizes Transparency
The FBI’s more cooperative stance appears directly tied to leadership changes within the agency. FBI spokesman Ben Williamson highlighted this shift in approach in a statement about the document release. The bureau’s willingness to provide these materials stands in stark contrast to previous resistance that led House Republicans to consider contempt proceedings against former leadership for failing to comply with congressional demands for information and documents.
“Kash Patel’s FBI was given a mandate to open up the books and engage in transparency efforts at levels never before seen – and our Congressional Affairs team is stepping up to the plate” – FBI spokesman Ben Williamson
Jordan’s spokesman Russell Dye expressed appreciation for the new direction, suggesting that this could be the beginning of a more productive relationship between Congress and the FBI. The documents provided to Jordan’s committee potentially offer insight into decision-making processes that have been hidden from congressional and public scrutiny for extended periods, potentially allowing lawmakers to assess whether federal law enforcement resources were improperly deployed for political purposes.
JUST IN🔥: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is demanding Special Counsel David Weiss and other Biden-Harris Department of Justice officials testify about the weaponization of the Justice Department in the Hunter Biden
Officials asked to appear:
J.P. Cooney
Mack… pic.twitter.com/kJGidYSpCs— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) March 18, 2025
Controversial Investigations Under Scrutiny
The documents provided by the FBI cover several controversial matters that Republicans have cited as evidence of potential weaponization. These include summaries of investigations tagged with “EDUOFFICIALS” that followed Garland’s memo regarding threats against school officials during heated debates over COVID-19 policies and curriculum issues. Whistleblowers had previously alleged that FBI counterterrorism assets were inappropriately involved in investigating parents who were protesting school policies.
“under Director Kash Patel’s leadership, the FBI is dedicated to working with Congress towards transparency” – FBI Assistant Director Marshall Yates
The FBI also provided information regarding a controversial memo from its Richmond Field Office that purportedly linked violent extremists with “radical-traditionalist Catholic” ideology. The bureau acknowledged in its response that this memo failed to meet FBI standards and was subsequently removed. Additionally, the document release included information on 55 investigations related to the FACE Act conducted since May 2022, addressing Jordan’s concerns about potential disparities in how the law was enforced against pro-life versus pro-abortion rights activists.
Path Forward for Congressional Oversight
This document release may represent just the beginning of increased cooperation between the FBI and congressional oversight efforts. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced a “Weaponization Working Group” to investigate potential political motivations behind Department of Justice and FBI actions during the previous administration. The FBI had previously delivered some documents related to various investigations, but Republicans had continued to express dissatisfaction with the scope and pace of disclosure.
“We are thankful for Director Patel’s work, and we will have more updates soon” – Jordan’s spokesman Russell Dye
For many Republicans who have long criticized what they view as politicization of federal law enforcement agencies, this increased transparency represents a significant development in their efforts to hold these institutions accountable. The documents now under congressional review may provide insights into whether federal agencies were improperly influenced by political considerations in their investigative and enforcement activities during the Biden administration.