Ted Cruz asks FBI Director why leaked document identifies AMERICAN symbols as 'militia violent extremism'

Brace yourselves, this one is a doozy. Thursday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray about a recent Project Veritas report that could potentially identify historic American symbols as "Militia Violent Extremism." The document leaked by an alleged whistleblower suggests that FBI guidelines for identifying “Militia Violent Extremists" are broad.

In the leaked document, the Betsy Ross Flag, Gadsden Flag, and other typical American symbols could land American citizens on the Department of Defense's naughty "extremist" list. References to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution using the abbreviation "2A" is also included on the list.

CRUZ: I regularly hear from FBI agents and the Department of Justice professionals. They are dismayed that our law enforcement has been weaponized and politicized rather than remaining apolitical, as it has been for the history of our country. Yesterday, it was reported that Project Veritas had obtained a copy of an FBI training material, which listed various symbols and themes, in the FBI’s estimation, were indicative of, quote, “Militia Violent Extremism.” These symbols weren’t things like the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazi Party, which naturally would be symbols of that. Still, instead, they include rather astonishingly patriotic symbols of our nation and history. Included on this list is the Betsy Ross flag. Now, that is fairly remarkable that the Betsy Ross flag, in the FBI’s indication, is indicative of Militia Violent Extremism because, among the public and other people, alongside the Betsy Ross flag, we have President Barack Obama, who was sworn in directly underneath the Betsy Ross flags. But, it’s not just President Obama. We also have President Biden sworn in under Betsy Ross flags. It’s not just the Betsy Ross flag. Also on this list is the Gadsden flag symbolizing violent extremism. Like many other states, the State of Virginia has a license plate for the Gadsden flag. I think people would be astonished to find that the FBI indicates that you’re a violent extremist with that license plate.

FBI DIRECTOR WRAY: Well, Senator, I’m not familiar with the particular document that you have behind you, and I’m not in the practice of trying to comment on documents I haven’t recognized, but I will tell you that when we put out intelligence products, including ones that reference symbols, which we do across a wide variety of contexts, we usually make great pains- take great pains to put caveats and warnings in the document that make clear that a symbol alone is not considered evidence of violent extremism.

Watch FBI Director Ray's response: