In a revelation reminiscent of authoritarian tactics associated with the former Soviet Union, newly uncovered federal documents suggest that the Biden administration’s Justice Department, under former Attorney General Merrick Garland, collaborated with the White House to target parents protesting school policies. The documents, obtained by the conservative watchdog group America First Legal (AFL), indicate that the Justice Department sought a “federal hook” to investigate and potentially criminally charge parents voicing concerns over COVID-19 mandates, transgender policies, critical race theory, and other educational issues at school board meetings. Critics argue this move was designed to chill dissent and suppress free speech, drawing parallels to the Soviet Union’s historical use of state power to silence opposition.According to AFL, the documents “conclusively prove” that Garland’s October 4, 2021, memo, which directed the FBI to address a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence” against school officials, was not a response to genuine threats but a politically motivated effort to silence concerned parents. The memo followed a September 29, 2021, letter from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to President Biden, which controversially likened parental protests to “domestic terrorism.” The NSBA later retracted this claim, but the Justice Department’s actions, including mobilizing federal law enforcement, proceeded despite internal warnings from career attorneys in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. These attorneys argued that targeting parents lacked federal authority and violated their First Amendment rights, as most of the cited behavior was constitutionally protected speech.One email, dated October 1, 2021, from Kevin Chambers, an aide to the attorney general, to a colleague, stated, “We’re aware; the challenge here is finding a federal hook. But WH has been in touch about whether we can assist in some form or fashion.” Another Civil Rights Division attorney, in an email dated October 3, 2021, expressed concern, noting, “Almost all of the language being used is protected by the First Amendment, the main issue seems to be disruption and obstruction of school board meetings, which could be reached by local trespassing laws or disturbance of the peace laws, but nothing remotely federal.” Despite these objections, the DOJ moved forward, with the FBI creating a “threat tag” (EDUOFFICIALS) to track investigations into parents, a move that critics argue was intended to intimidate rather than address actual criminal activity.AFL President Gene Hamilton condemned the administration’s actions, stating, “The Biden Administration appears to have engaged in a conspiracy that was ultimately aimed at depriving parents of two fundamental rights—the right to speak, and the right to direct the upbringing of their children.” The group alleges that the effort was politically orchestrated, with intentions to influence the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election and broadly suppress dissent nationwide. Virginia, a focal point of heated school board protests, saw significant public outcry over policies perceived as infringing on parental rights.The controversy has sparked widespread criticism, with comparisons to Soviet-style governance where state mechanisms were used to quash dissent. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, have highlighted the DOJ’s actions as an overreach, pointing to whistleblower disclosures that revealed the FBI’s use of counterterrorism tools to investigate parents. In a 2021 House Judiciary Committee hearing, Garland insisted the memo targeted only violence or threats of violence, not peaceful protests, stating, “The Justice Department supports and defends the First Amendment right of parents to complain as vociferously as they wish about the education of their children.” However, the newly released documents contradict Garland’s claims of independence, showing direct communication with the White House.Critics, including AFL and Parents Defending Education, argue that the administration’s actions represent a dangerous weaponization of federal power against citizens exercising their constitutional rights. The Supreme Court declined to hear a related case in October 2024, where parents from Virginia and Michigan argued that the DOJ’s investigations chilled their free speech. Lower courts had rejected their claims, citing a lack of prosecution for peaceful protests, but the controversy continues to fuel debates over government overreach and parental rights.The Biden administration has not issued an apology or rescinded Garland’s memo, despite calls from advocacy groups and lawmakers. As the documents circulate, they underscore ongoing concerns about the balance between public safety and the protection of free speech, with many warning that such actions risk eroding democratic principles in a manner reminiscent of historical authoritarian regimes.
References:
- Breitbart News, “Documents: Biden AG and White House Conspired to Chill Local Parents’ School Board Protests,” July 19, 2025.
- America First Legal, “MAJOR VICTORY — America First Legal Uncovers Documents Conclusively Proving the Infamous Garland Memo was Politically Orchestrated and Coordinated,” July 18, 2025.
- Fox News, “House Judiciary report: ‘No legitimate basis’ for Biden admin to target parents at school board meetings,” March 21, 2023.
- The Gateway Pundit, “Smoking Gun: Biden White House Colluded with Merrick Garland on Memo Labeling Parents ‘Domestic Terrorists,’” July 19, 2025.
- USA Today, “Supreme Court rejects case about DOJ investigating parents who protest at school boards,” October 7, 2024.
