TMLC Files FOIA Request on DHS ‘Report’
According to the statement I received from the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), their organization has filed a FOIA request with the Department of Homeland Security demanding to know if there was a basis for their recent intelligence assessment against “right wing extremists.” Here’s a portion of their statement:
The Thomas More Law Center announced today that is has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Homeland Security demanding to know the basis for their recent intelligence assessment targeting as “rightwing extremists” those who oppose abortion, gun control, lax immigration laws, and a myriad of other policies supported by President Obama’s administration. The Law Center filed its request after consultation with conservative talk show host Michael Savage.
The Department of Homeland Security’s document in question, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” was released to law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Of particular concern was the report’s singling out of military veterans as vulnerable to rightwing extremism.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center stated, “This is not an intelligence report but a diatribe against those who oppose the policies of the Obama administration. It is a declaration of war against the American people and our constitution. It is a prelude to extreme gun control legislation and hate speech laws targeting Christian churches and others who oppose abortion and same sex marriage. The federal government should be focusing its attention on the 35 radical Muslim compounds in the U.S. training its followers on how to kidnap and kill Americans.”
While I think it’s a stretch to say that it’s “a declaration of war against the American people” and the Constitution, it isn’t unreasonable to think that this administration isn’t interested in ignoring the Constitution when it gets in the way of their agenda.
What’s clear is that this isn’t an intelligence report based on observations. Instead, it’s more likely that it’s a statement issued by a paranoid hard-left ideologue. According to this AP article, House Republicans are sitting on their hands about this outrage:
“To characterize men and women returning home after defending our country as potential terrorists is offensive and unacceptable,” said Boehner, R-Ohio.
Prior to St. Cloud’s Tea Party, I chatted briefly with a Vietnam vet about the DHS statement. To say that he was upset is understatement. He asked the question that I was thinking: Why would anyone think that a person that just risked their life to protect this nation then want to do something that would destroy or, at minimum, hurt this nation?
That’s the question that Ms. Napolitano should be forced to answer. If she won’t answer that question, then President Obama should fire her ASAP.
“Let me be very clear—we monitor the risks of violent extremism taking root here in the United States,” Napolitano said in a statement. “We don’t have the luxury of focusing our efforts on one group; we must protect the country from terrorism whether foreign or homegrown, and regardless of the ideology that motivates its violence.”
Napolitano said the department respects and honors veterans and that she intends to meet with Rehbein next week after she returns from a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border and meetings in Mexico City.
Ms. Napolitano says that DHS monitors “the risks of violent extremism taking root here in the United States.” What proof is there that returning Iraqi war vets present a threat? Let’s remember that this wasn’t meant for public consumption, which increases the likelihood that it’s what DHS employees really think.
Ms. Napolitano’s statement that “the department respects and honors veterans” is suspicious at best, especially considering Jim Hoft’s reminding us of this:
BLITZER: And so do you still consider the United States be engaged in the war on terror?
NAPOLITANO: I consider the United States, yes, to be very engaged in and working with our international partners and others in preventing terrorist acts from occurring.
BLITZER: Is it a bigger threat from your perspective and other [ed. - another?] al Qaeda and foreign related terror attack against the United States or domestic terrorism along the lines of an Oklahoma City bombing?
NAPOLITANO: That’s difficult to say because both are risks that are with us and will be with us and so what the American people need to know is that the Department of Homeland Security, as the secretary of Homeland Security, we’re thinking all the time about these issues. We’re working all these times on what we can do realistically to prevent, to interfere but also to prepare should something happen.
UPDATE: I literally just got another statement from TMLC announcing their filing a lawsuit in federal court against DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano:
The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced today that it has filed a federal lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The lawsuit claims that her Department’s “Rightwing Extremism Policy,” as reflected in the recently publicized Intelligence Assessment, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” violates the civil liberties of combat veterans as well as American citizens by targeting them for disfavored treatment on account of the political beliefs. Click here to read the Law Center’s complaint.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, Gregg Cunningham (President of the pro-life organization Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, Inc (CBR)), and Iraqi War Marine veteran Kevin Murray. The Law Center claims that Napolitano’s Department (DHS) has violated the First and Fifth Amendment Constitutional rights of these three plaintiffs by attempting to chill their free speech, expressive association, and equal protection rights. The lawsuit further claims that the Department of Homeland Security encourages law enforcement officers throughout the nation to target and report citizens to federal officials as suspicious rightwing extremists and potential terrorists because of their political beliefs.
Richard Thompson nails Ms. Napolitano perfectly with this statement:
Thompson added, “Janet Napolitano is lying to the American people when she says the Report is not based on ideology or political beliefs. In fact, her report would have the admiration of any current or past dictator in the way it targets political opponents.”
The notion that this report wasn’t ideology-driven is insulting. Without that insidious ideology, this ‘report’ wouldn’t exist.
Ms. Napolitano is embarassing. Like President Obama himself, her words don’t match her actions. She should resign immediately for letting her employees have this anti-military attitude.
Technorati Tags: Military, Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, Veterans, Extremists, Thomas More Law Center, Lawsuit, Richard Thompson, Michael Savage
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog