Overview
- America First Legal released internal DOJ and FBI records on June 14–15, 2026 that confirm Attorney General Merrick Garland’s October 4, 2021 memorandum directing federal attention to threats at school board meetings.
- The documents include an October 4, 2021 email from FBI Deputy Assistant Director Jay Greenberg saying the FBI had “some concern” and asking for more time to engage before messaging about the memo went out.
- Internal DOJ officials warned the memo could backfire and “nuke” election-threat work, with one top official saying it would damage the Public Integrity Section’s reputation.
- The National Sheriffs’ Association told DOJ on October 8, 2021 that its members had not heard widespread threats to school boards and said it would have welcomed a heads-up, according to the released records.
- Conservative outlets and AFL emphasize the records to argue the memo amounted to federal targeting of parents, AFL says the FBI created an ‘EDUOFFICIALS’ tag to track cases, and the disclosures could prompt further legal fights and congressional scrutiny.