Judicial Watch sues FBI for records on Garland's Critical Race Theory memo

Judicial Watch on Monday announced it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit to obtain records about a memorandum from Attorney General Merrick Garland instructing law enforcement to "address the rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel" following heated discussions about Critical Race Theory.

The conservative watchdog sought Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents related to the memo through an October 2021 FOIA request but the federal agency failed to respond.

The controversial memo, titled "Partnership Among Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement to Address Threats Against School Administrators, Board Members, Teachers, and Staff," stated that there has been a "disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against" school employees.

Garland testified that the memo was based on a letter from the National School Board Association that classified parental actions against Critical Race Theory as "domestic terrorism and hate crimes." The Association later apologized for the letter.

Judicial Watch stated its request includes "all records related to any actions planned or taken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in response to the memorandum, as well as all related records of communication between any official or employee of the FBI and any other individual or entity."

In a press release announcing the lawsuit, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote: "The Biden administration wants to target parents as 'terrorists' by abusing the FBI and DOJ to intimidate parents who oppose the racist and anti-American Critical Race Theory agenda… Now Judicial Watch had to file a federal FOIA lawsuit because the agencies are in cover-up mode over this shocking abuse of power."