Peaceful protest is not a crime. Yet a whistleblower disclosure alleges that the White House and Justice Department leadership directed the FBI to open investigations based solely on people taking part in First Amendment activity. The disclosure also alleges that agents raised concerns internally and were ignored, and that the cases pulled resources away from real crime. If that is true, it should frighten everyone. When the government can open a file on you for joining a protest, people learn to stay quiet. That chills the right to speak, assemble, and dissent, whichever side you are on. Agency policy already says investigations cannot rest on protected speech. A policy can be ignored. A law with enforcement behind it is harder to ignore. Congress can write that protection into statute, require documentation of the basis for any investigation, and give whistleblowers real protection when they speak up. Make it illegal for the FBI to open an investigation based solely on protected First Amendment activity.
