Top Scandals That Rocked the FBI Under the Biden Administration
As the Biden administration comes to a close, Fox Digital takes a look at some of the top scandals the FBI has faced in the last four years. One of the most recent examples is the FBI’s handling of a suspected terror attack on New Year’s Day in New Orleans.
On New Year’s Day, a truck plowed through crowds of revelers on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens of others. Initially, the FBI reported that the attack was not an act of terrorism, contradicting statements from the mayor of New Orleans and other officials. The FBI soon backtracked and confirmed that it was investigating the attack as related to terrorism.
The incident has sparked outrage among conservatives and Trump allies, with some claiming the FBI has prioritized issues like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and hiring over investigating and preventing crime. Senator Marsha Blackburn tweeted that the FBI had “failed” its mission as the nation’s top law enforcement agency, citing the report that the suspect’s home in Texas was only searched by law enforcement after reporters had already arrived on the scene.
The incident is just one of many controversies that have surrounded the FBI during the Biden administration. In 2022, the agency faced criticism for a raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, in which 30 armed agents executed a search warrant and seized 33 boxes of documents. The raid was reportedly authorized by Attorney General Merrick Garland, and the FBI’s handling of it has been a source of anger and mistrust among Trump supporters.
The FBI has also been criticized for targeting parents who spoke out at school board meetings, accusing them of engaging in domestic terrorism. The Justice Department issued a memo in 2021 instructing the FBI to use counterterrorism tools to investigate threats and intimidation directed at school officials.
In addition to these controversies, the FBI has faced allegations of corruption and partisan bias. For example, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley accused the FBI of ignoring bribery allegations against the Biden family, including President Biden and his son Hunter. Grassley called the FBI’s handling of the allegations “an excuse for a criminal investigation” and accused the agency of acting as an “accomplice to the Democrats’ false information campaign.”
The FBI has also faced criticism for its handling of several other high-profile cases, including the raid on a Pennsylvania man who was accused of pushing an abortion clinic escort. The man, Mark Houck, was acquitted by a jury after arguing that he was protecting his 12-year-old son from the escort’s harassment.
In other controversies, FBI Director Christopher Wray has come under fire for his handling of an assassination attempt on Trump, in which Wray suggested that Trump may not have been hit by a bullet. Wray has also been criticized for failing to investigate bribery allegations against the Biden family.
Overall, these scandals have sparked widespread distrust of the FBI among conservatives and have raised questions about the agency’s priorities and transparency. As the Biden administration comes to a close, the FBI will be faced with the challenge of rebuilding its reputation and addressing the concerns of the American people.
