Republican Sen. Josh Hawley condemned the Biden administration for asking the FBI to help tackle violence and intimidation at heated school board meetings, saying it was 'unprecedented' and 'unconstitutional.'
The meetings have been flashpoints for anger this year over everything from pandemic mask mandates to critical race theory.
Last week, Biden's attorney general announced federal agencies, including the FBI, would look into growing cases of harassment, intimidation and threats directed at parents and educators.
But Hawley, of Missouri, said it was an effort to silence parents.
'I had the opportunity this past week to confront the Justice Department about their effort to use the FBI to silence these parents,' he told OAN, a hardline, rightwing political TV channel, after speaking at the Vote, Pray, Stand Summit in Virginia on Friday.
'Boy that's wrong, that's wrong. I think it's unconstitutional.
'I think it's dangerous that Joe Biden would try to use federal law enforcement to shut down moms and dads from talking about school boards.
'I mean that's just unprecedented so they're gonna have to fight me every step of the way, if they actually try to go through with that.'
Sen. Josh Hawley said the Biden administration would have to fight him if it was really intent on setting the FBI on parents at school board meetings
President Biden returned to the White House after spending the holiday weekend at his home near Wilmington, Delaware. He has condemned threats at school board meetings
In a memo, Attorney General Merrick Garland asked the FBI to take the lead on investigations into 'a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence' against boards
Angry school board meeting have been one of the most visible flashpoints during a year of tensions.
A school board meeting in Minnesota over masking degenerated into violence last month, after a speaker wearing a face
