Wray and Mayorkas dodge censorship claims.
Department of Homeland Security and FBI Directors Grilled Over Assault on First Amendment
During a Tuesday Homeland Security Committee hearing, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray faced intense questioning from Sen. Rand Paul regarding their agencies’ attack on the First Amendment.
The DHS and FBI were exposed in the high-profile Missouri v. Biden case for their suppression of free speech in America. However, instead of showing remorse or promising reform, Mayorkas and Wray were defensive and dishonest during the hearing.
Just Now: Senator Rand Paul grills DHS Secretary Mayorkas & FBI Director Wray about whether or not they’re still colluding with social media companies to censor Americans pic.twitter.com/GvvRXnLwcX
Mayorkas claimed that DHS employees only met with Big Tech companies to discuss threats to national security. However, when asked if this included criticism of vaccine efficacy, Mayorkas denied it, suggesting that DHS never instructed social media companies to censor vaccine-related content.
Contrary to Mayorkas’ statement, Missouri v. Biden revealed that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a subsidiary of DHS, did indeed direct the censorship of speech critical of Covid vaccines and government-imposed lockdown measures.
Senator Paul confronted Mayorkas, stating that Missouri v. Biden listed numerous instances of constitutionally protected speech being targeted, unrelated to national security. He refused to let the secretary lie.
Turning to Wray, Paul inquired about the FBI’s ongoing interactions with social media companies.
Wray responded, “We’re having some interaction with social media companies. But, all of those interactions have changed fundamentally in the wake of the court’s ruling.” He referred to the two court rulings in Missouri v. Biden that placed an injunction on the FBI and other agencies, preventing them from infringing on the First Amendment.
Paul pressed further, suggesting that the FBI’s discussions went beyond national security concerns, including constitutionally protected speech. Wray defensively denied this, claiming it was not an acknowledgment of such discussions.
However, this contradicts the findings of Missouri v. Biden, where the FBI played a significant role in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story and engaging in illegal censorship. The suppression of this story potentially influenced the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Mayorkas and Wray lead agencies that were described by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, the initial judge in Missouri v. Biden, as being involved in arguably “the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history.”
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Missouri v. Biden, but has temporarily blocked the lower court’s injunction, allowing further speech policing. Wray and Mayorkas are likely to continue violating Americans’ fundamental rights until the case is addressed by the Supreme Court, expected before the end of June.
Evita Duffy-Alfonso is a staff writer for The Federalist and co-founder of the Chicago Thinker. She is passionate about the Midwest, lumberjack sports, writing, and her family. Follow her on Twitter at @evitaduffy_1 or contact her at [email protected].
How did Mayorkas respond when questioned about the instances of censorship by the DHS, and why is his response concerning?
Eech being censored by CISA. He questioned Mayorkas on whether he was aware of these instances and why his agency would engage in such behavior. Mayorkas dodged the question, claiming that he hadn’t read the case. This response only further highlighted the avoidance and lack of transparency exhibited by the DHS secretary.
Wray’s responses were no better. When asked about the FBI’s involvement in censoring speech, Wray tried to dismiss the issue by stating that the FBI is focused on investigating crimes, not suppressing speech. However, as Senator Paul pointed out, censoring speech is itself a violation of the law and a suppression of Americans’ First Amendment rights. Wray’s attempt to brush off the issue only demonstrated a lack of accountability and an unwillingness to address the concerns raised.
The assault on the First Amendment by the DHS and FBI is a concerning development that threatens the foundations of democracy. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right that allows for the expression of diverse opinions and the exchange of ideas. When government agencies engage in censorship, it creates a chilling effect on speech and undermines the principles upon which the country was built.
The fact that Mayorkas and Wray were defensive and dishonest during the hearing raises serious questions about their commitment to upholding the Constitution. Instead of acknowledging the wrongdoing of their agencies and promising reform, they chose to deflect and deny. This behavior only erodes public trust and confidence in the DHS and FBI.
It is crucial that these issues are addressed and resolved. Government agencies must be held accountable for their actions and ensure that they respect and protect the rights enshrined in the First Amendment. The public deserves transparency and honesty from the leaders of these agencies, especially when it comes to matters of free speech and civil liberties.
Senator Paul’s line of questioning during the hearing has shed light on the concerning state of affairs within the DHS and FBI. It is now up to Congress and the American people to demand accountability and push for reforms that safeguard the First Amendment rights of all citizens. The assault on free speech must be confronted and halted, for the sake of preserving the democratic values that make America a beacon of freedom and democracy.
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