Two organizations trying to shield the Biden administration from Congressional oversight risk breaking the law by obstructing hearings and intimidating witnesses, according to a conservative rights group, which is calling for an investigation and — if warranted — arrests .
After Republicans retook the House in November, the Congressional Integrity Project — backed by an arm of liberal dark-money funder Arabella Advisors — and Facts First USA (led by Democratic activist David Brock) blasted members of the GOP House of Representatives over oversight matters will lead. chiefly James Comer, Speaker of the House of Representatives for Oversight and Accountability, of Kentucky, and Jim Jordan, Speaker of the House of Representatives for Judiciary, of Ohio.
An October memo from Brock called for “direct attacks,” “an environment of backlash,” and “maximum repudiation,” politically speaking, against Republican lawmakers.
America First Legal warns that doing so could result in obstruction of congressional hearings, harassment of members of Congress, and intimidation of witnesses and whistleblowers — reminiscent of liberal protesters supporting Republican senators during the hearings to confirm Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court in the Year 2018 haunted and ridiculed.
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Democratic groups are reportedly trying to shield the Biden administration from the risk of congressional oversight. (Joe Radle)
“Mr. Brock’s plan is simplified,” says Reed D. Rubinstein, investigator for the America First Legal Foundation (AFL) in one Letter of March 16 to House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland. “But in 2018 (for example) similar tactics were used against congressional staffers and members to influence, obstruct and obstruct congressional hearings on Brett Kavanaugh. There is therefore ample reason to take seriously the promises made by Mr. Brock and his shadowy money affiliates of ‘direct attacks’, ‘backlash’ and coordinated ‘maximum repudiation’ against members, staff and witnesses.”
The AFL letter focuses primarily on the words of Brock, head of Facts First USA. But at the top of the letter it says it addresses possible violations by both Facts First USA and the Congressional Integrity Project 18 U.S.C. § 1505which the US Code describes as “obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies and committees”.
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“This is also where congressional oversight of Mr. Brock and his dark money network may be appropriate to uncover the breadth and sources of funding for the contemplated interference, obstruction or disruption of House oversight activities,” Rubinstein’s letter continued.
“But as a Sergeant of Arms, you have the authority to make arrests and enforce the laws of the United States within the geographic area, which includes all members of the House of Representatives, their staff and committee hearing rooms,” the letter adds. “Federal law grants you the same law enforcement authority as a member of the Capitol Police. Intimidating congressional witnesses or whistleblowers, obstructing official congressional investigations, or otherwise interfering with constitutional duties and rights are all crimes within your jurisdiction.”
Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee James Comer of Kentucky. (J Scott Applewhite)
Facts First USA referred Fox News Digital to its own Letter of March 17th to McFarland, the House Sergeant at Arms, noting that it is an entirely separate entity from the Congressional Integrity Project.
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“The fact that the AFL is acting at the behest of House Republicans is really the only way to understand an organization that otherwise claims it is ‘steadfastly committed to defending … free speech’ and is trying to probe us for our speech. And, it helps explain why AFL would turn to the House Sergeant at Arms to conduct such a review,” the statement by co-chairs David Jolly, a former GOP representative from Florida, and Maria Cardona said , a former TV presenter.
The letter went on to allege that AFL President Steven Miller’s former boss – former President Donald Trump – had a history of involvement in witness intimidation.
“In any case, we are pleased that Mr. Miller and his colleagues hold such a firm belief that witness tampering and intimidation warrant criminal investigations and indictments — although that view appears new given their personal history of alleged interference in congressional investigations,” it said continued in the letter.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed in 2018. (Reuters)
Brock, a former conservative writer-turned Democratic activist, founded the liberal Media Matters for America and the American Bridge 21st Century Super PAC. He founded Facts First USA in 2022 before the midterm elections, when it was widely expected that Republicans would win at least one chamber of Congress in that year’s midterm elections.
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The 15 page Brock note described the plans for Fact First on Oct. 25, two weeks before the election, in a tone that the AFL says suggests congressional disruption. The Brock memo calls for “coordination between like-minded groups for maximum resistance and consistent messaging.”
The memo also defends Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, who is under investigation by the Justice Department on financial matters and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.
Hunter Biden (L) and President Joe Biden (R). (Paul Morigi)
“Hunter Biden has been unable to publicly defend his actions. This has caused a one-sided narrative to become more mainstream, even among Democrats who don’t know the facts,” Brock said in the memo. “This must be resolutely countered – both with targeted responses and direct attacks on the inquisitors of Congress.”
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The memo adds, “We will create an environment of anti-Republican backlash so the 2024 election can be decided on the matter.”
The Congressional Integrity Project has reportedly received about $1.5 million in donations from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit organization financially sponsored by Arabella Advisors, a liberal dark money organization. The CIP did not respond to a request from Fox News Digital about the story.
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