The FBI shared a tweet this week that was immediately fact-checked by Twitter’s community notes. The Bureau was attempting to distance itself from the fact that it monitored school board meetings.
“In reference to the false assertions about investigating parents at school board meetings, #FBI Director Wray told the House Judiciary Committee that the Bureau is not in the business of policing speech,” the tweet read.
Community notes stepped in to set the Feds straight.
“The FBI’s statement is misleading,” the note begins. “On May 18, 2023, former FBI agent Steve Friend testified before the House Judiciary Committee that he and others were directed to surveil and document parents attending school board meetings.”
Steve Friend also sounded off on Wray’s testimony.
“The @FBI Director told @JudiciaryGOP that special agents did not conduct surveillance of school boards. He lied. The Joint Terrorism Task Force in my office did it. I testified about the details in May.”
The @FBI Director told @JudiciaryGOP that special agents did not conduct surveillance of school boards. He lied. The Joint Terrorism Task Force in my office did it. I testified about the details in May.
— Steve Friend (@RealStevefriend) July 12, 2023
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who went after Wray hard during the hearing, shared previous testimony on Twitter showing that Wray had lied to the committee.
FBI Director Wray LIED again! https://t.co/aAEGA4ug2C pic.twitter.com/jFc0IIkjKP
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) July 12, 2023
And, of course, there’s the memo this memo that everyone has seen:
We’ve literally seen the memo. pic.twitter.com/itIlZIDFBJ
— David Giglio (@DavidGiglioCA) July 13, 2023