The Political Insider

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki dodged a reporter’s question on whether or not the Biden administration viewed parents who protest critical race theory to be domestic terrorists.

Psaki made her comments during the daily White House briefing. 

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Psaki Dodges The Question, Twice

Fox News’ Peter Doocy said to Psaki, “A week ago, the National School Boards Association wrote to the president to say their teachers feel like some parents protesting recently could be equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism.”

Doocy asked, “So does the administration agree that parents upset about their kids’ curriculums could be domestic terrorists?”

The letter Doocy referenced recently prompted Attorney General Merrick Garland to ask the FBI to investigate what he characterized as a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence,” by parents at school board meetings concerned about the racialized curricula and mask mandates.

Psaki replied, “The Department of Justice said … threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values.” 

“That is true,” Psaki insisted. “These are threats against public servants, threats against members of the school board. Regardless of the reasoning, threats and violence against public servants is illegal.”

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Doocy: ‘Would The Administration Be OK With The FBI Using The Patriot Act To Surveil These Parents?’

This response didn’t exactly answer Doocy’s original question.

Of course violence and threats of violence are illegal. That wasn’t the question asked, however.

So he persisted. Doocy asked Psaki whether the administration would support the FBI’s use of the Patriot Act to target these parents.

Doocy said, “Something that the School Boards Association is asking for is the administration to consider using the Patriot Act to consider investigating some of these school board protesters. So would the administration be OK with the FBI using the Patriot Act to surveil these parents?”

Psaki dodged again.

“I don’t speak on behalf of the National School Boards Association,” she replied. “I speak on behalf of this government.”