Congressman Jim McDermott writes letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder

The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is pleased to announce that U.S. Representative Jim McDermott of the 7th District in the State of Washington wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder expressing concern about the targeting of political and anti-war activists, the suppression of 1st amendment protected free speech, and asking for more information on the FBI raids and Grand Jury repression. This is the result of the determined efforts and outreach by the Seattle Committee.

Representative McDermott joins four other Representatives who wrote a letter of concern to Attorney General Holder or President Obama, including Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Illinois), Rep. David Price (North Carolina), Rep. Keith Ellison (Minnesota) and Rep. Danny Davis (Illinois). We want to publicly thank them for their efforts and ask other elected officials to join them.

We are asking supporters to call and write their U.S. Representatives asking for similar letters written to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. President Obama. On Wednesday, May 4, and Thursday, May 5, 2011, there is a CSFR delegation visiting Congresspersons in Washington D.C. Please contact your U.S. Representative today and ask them to meet with the CSFR delegation.

In solidarity,
Tom Burke for the CSFR

## Letter from Representative Jim McDermott, 7th District, Washington

**April 28, 2011**

Dear Attorney General Holder:

I am writing to convey the concerns of my constituents regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) investigation of several individuals and organizations associated with anti-war activism. On September 24, 2010, the FBI conducted searches of seven homes and an office building in Minneapolis and Chicago and issued subpoenas to 23 individuals in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The FBI also visited individuals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, San Jose, California, and Durham, North Carolina in relation to the investigation. Media reports have cited documents indicating that the case is focused on potential violations of federal laws prohibiting support to terrorist organizations.

Several of my constituents have expressed concerns that the Bureau might be targeting these individuals and organizations because of their political views rather than their direct connection to a federal criminal investigation. My constituents are also worried about the potential “chilling effect” such investigations may have on the free speech rights of Americans, including other individual rights protected under the Constitution.

While I understand that the Department cannot comment on an ongoing criminal investigation, any information you can provide about this investigation, including its status, would be greatly appreciated by me and my constituents.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or Diane Shust, my chief of staff, at (202) 225-3106 if we can provide you with additional information.

Sincerely,

Jim McDermott
Member of Congress