House committee hears from FBI whistleblowers

The Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government heard from four witnesses Thursday who said the FBI is acting politically. The committee released a report soon after. Former Special Agent Steve Friend said the FBI placed him on leave after he voiced concerns about its handling of the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6. He and other witnesses also said the FBI is reinterpreting laws to target political opponents and boost the numbers of reported domestic terrorists. Committee Democrats say the hearing is itself a weaponization of the government.

Has there been backlash for the whistleblowers? On Wednesday, the FBI rescinded the security clearances of two witnesses. It had already suspended the security clearance of Friend after he raised his initial concerns, he said. The FBI also refused to send the required paperwork so that he could find employment while he was placed on leave, Friend said. Other witnesses reported the agency took other retaliatory measures toward them after they raised concerns.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s report on special counsel John Durham’s investigation of the FBI on The World and Everything in It podcast.