Maxine Waters' GOP opponent accuses FBI of double standard after he faces investigation

Republican candidate Omar Navarro, who is trying to unseat Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), accused the FBI of a double standard after he was investigated for posting on Twitter a letter falsely attributed to Waters.

Here's what happened

Navarro posted a letter on Dec. 11 to his official Twitter account, and said that he received it from a source on Facebook.

"According to this document, Maxine Waters wants more terrorists, like the one who bombed NYC, in California’s 43rd District," he tweeted. "As Congressman of CA’s 43rd District, I will oppose such policies."

The letter, which has not been deleted from his account, falsely portrays Waters as declaring a partnership with a Muslim group to bring 41,000 refugees from Somalia to resettle in her district.

"The election cycle has begun and I do need your support," the letter reads, "therefore I feel it would be best to announce plans for LAUD after the November elections, and perhaps even once I have secured the Speaker of the House position."

Waters formally asked the FBI to investigate the letter in December. It is a federal crime to impersonate a member of Congress. Navarro says that he didn't create the document, he only propagated it after someone sent it to him.

Navarro decried what he saw as a double standard after he was contacted by the FBI in their investigation of the letter that he admitted he neglected to vet properly.

"Let’s get this straight I tweet a letter which says Maxine Waters wants to bring 41,000 Somali refugees," Navarro tweeted. "I only tweet according to this document asking a question."

"Now the FBI is on me for her complaint," he explained. "She threatens the president and his supporters and no investigation on her."

Navarro was referring to Waters' controversial admonition to her supporters to harass members of the Trump administration.

“Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up," she told an audience, "and if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere!"

Even the leaders of the Democratic Party thought Waters' comments went too far, and they pushed back publicly. This resulted in some supporters of Waters accusing them of being motivated by racism.

Navarro said he will speak to the FBI about the matter on Wednesday.

Here's a local news video of Omar Navarro:

Navarro has experience in challenging the vociferous Democrat. He ran against her in 2016 and lost by a staggering margin of 51 percent of the vote, with Waters garnering 75 percent and Navarro just 24 percent.

"I can’t be intimidated," Navarro said in a tweet. "The people will help me fire back at Maxine Waters."