Moms for Liberty Co-Founder Cites 'Vindication' Amid Revelations of FBI Investigations into Parents
A Justice Department report indicates the FBI initiated dozens of assessments involving parents, including one stemming from a tip about a mother's membership in a 'right-wing mom’s group.'
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich stated that her organization feels vindicated following a Justice Department report detailing that the FBI opened numerous assessments involving parents. These investigations occurred after a directive aimed at addressing threats against school officials. One specific assessment, according to the report, originated from a tip that identified a mother as a member of a "right-wing mom’s group."
Descovich told Fox News Digital that the organization felt "heard" and noted that parents involved with Moms for Liberty had become fearful of speaking publicly due to the Justice Department and FBI's response to heated school board conflicts starting in 2021. She claimed some parents reported receiving calls inquiring about their mental health and whether they possessed weapons.
"Parents were afraid to show up," Descovich said. "They were afraid to lose their jobs. They were members of our organization, sometimes privately and silently standing with us, but too afraid to speak out because of what our government did in the United States of America."
The Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group reported that the FBI initiated 25 "Guardian assessments" involving parents following a memorandum from then-Attorney General Merrick Garland on October 4, 2021. This directive addressed threats against school officials.
A whistleblower within the FBI disclosed that one mother was investigated after a tip cited her as a gun owner and a member of what was described as a "right-wing mom's group," which the DOJ and Department of Education identified as Moms for Liberty. Descovich asserted that the DOJ and FBI under the Biden administration acted as adversaries to parents and Moms for Liberty.
The press release from the Department of Justice noted that internal personnel referred to the effort as "ridiculous," raised First Amendment concerns, and suggested it appeared political. However, emails indicate that Attorney General Garland issued the memo after persuasion from Biden White House officials. The Working Group concluded that the memo was "the product of pressure exerted by the White House and wrongly weaponized the Department of Justice against parents."
Descovich criticized the memo, stating it was founded on the basis of using the Patriot Act against parents attending school board meetings, which she believes created a chilling effect across the country. She emphasized the need for accountability for a government that "was out of control."
"The first step of accountability was losing their power and their election, and we need to continue that through the midterms, because we cannot give power back to the people that weaponized the government against citizens, against ordinary parents," Descovich said. "Beyond that, I really hope the current administration will take further steps to hold the individuals accountable that were driving these attacks against its citizens."
The Department of Education deferred to their press release and letter on the matter when contacted for comment. The FBI and the White House were also reached out to for comment.