Former Attorney General Merrick Garland at Department of Justice on May 02, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Garland issued a directive to the FBI in October 2021 about a "disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence" against school administrators.
Garland said during a congressional hearing soon thereafter that he had issued the order just after the NSBA sent a letter to the White House, which the NSBA later retracted, that had asked the White House to investigate parents displaying threatening behavior at school board meetings as possible "domestic terrorists."
The emails were uncovered by America First Legal, a conservative group aligned with President Donald Trump.
The organization's president, Gene Hamilton, said in a statement that the emails revealed a "conspiracy that was ultimately aimed at depriving parents of two fundamental rights--the right to speak, and the right to direct the upbringing up their children."
The revelation comes as the White House has changed its posture during the Trump administration to overtly coordinate with the DOJ, including to investigate the president’s political opponents. Trump signed executive orders in April directing the DOJ to investigate former Homeland Security official Miles Taylor and former cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs. Fox News Digital reported this week that the White House counsel’s office is coordinating with the DOJ to investigate Biden’s use of an autopen.
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One recently fired DOJ employee of nearly two decades alleged to CBS News that the Trump administration had done away with policies on coordinating with the White House.
"There used to be a line, used to be a very distinct separation between the White House and the Department of Justice, because one should not interfere with the work of the other," the ex-employee said. "That line is very definitely gone."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Ashley Oliver is a reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. Email story tips to ashley.oliver@fox.com.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-doj-white-house-coordinated-controversial-school-boards-memo-documents-reveal