U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), along with other congressional representatives from New Jersey, are urging the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to increase the federal response related to white nationalist groups in their state.
The lawmakers said they have seen an increase in activity by the proud Boys and other white supremacists groups in the state. A report from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) increased the threat level posed by white supremacist extremists from “moderate” to “high” in 2020, the lawmakers said.
“While the FBI ‘does not police ideology,’ we believe the clear threat and pattern of violence demonstrated by members of groups like the Proud Boys merits increased scrutiny by the Bureau to protect public safety. This is abundantly necessary as these groups increasingly seek to organize and instigate violence,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We are also concerned that members of the Proud Boys or other unlawful militias or private paramilitary organizations may plan to target and disrupt rallies, polling places, or voter registration drives in the coming months.”
In addition to Gottheimer and Malinowski, the letter was signed by Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).
The lawmakers asked Wray and the FBI to respond to several questions, including whether the FBI currently considers violent extremist groups with ties to white nationalism like the Proud Boys to be a significant threat, and whether the FBI is concerned by violence at rallies organized by these groups across jurisdictions, including in Portland, Seattle, New York, and other cities. Wray and officials were also asked what the FBI’s strategy is to protect Americans from a surge in violent extremism and an uptick of attacks from individuals associated with these groups in the coming months.
“We believe we need a much more robust Federal response to the growing threat of violence posed by white nationalists, neo-Nazis, domestic terrorists, and other militias. Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue,” they wrote.