East Central Reporter

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) voiced her opposition to allocating $300 million for a new FBI headquarters, citing alleged abuses of power by the agency. Miller said she voted against the allocation due to the FBI’s inappropriate targeting of various groups.

"I voted against giving the FBI $300 million for a new headquarters because they ABUSED THEIR POWER to target: Parents at school board meetings; Christians who protested abortion clinics; James O’Keefe for investigating Joe Biden; Rudy Giuliani for exposing corruption in Ukraine," Miller said.

The amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, aiming to block funds for a new FBI headquarters, was defeated in a vote of 145 to 273. "Time after time we have seen the FBI target President Trump, people who believe in the Second Amendment, parents attending school board meetings, and more recently, some of their own brave FBI whistleblowers who have spoken up about the weaponization of our Federal Government,” according to U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who opposed the amendment.

Gaetz views awarding funds for a new headquarters as supporting what he sees as questionable actions by the FBI and pledges persisting his efforts against government agencies he believes are being weaponized against Americans.

In DuPage County, Downers Grove South High School parent Terry Newsome claimed that his activism against explicit materials in schools led him to be targeted by what he calls a “weaponized” FBI. After advocating against obscene books in schools Newsome was placed on an FBI terror watch list and claims his experiences are part of wider effort by federal authorities against regular citizens like himself.

Earlier this year, federal authorities conducted a court-ordered search on James O’Keefe's home connected with an investigation into allegations regarding Ashley Biden's diary theft - President Joe Biden's daughter as reported by The New York Times. O’Keefe is the founder of the conservative group Project Veritas and has defended his group's handling of the diary, asserting they acted as ethical journalists.

Lastly, an office raid on Rudy Giuliani occurred due to connections with Ukraine during his time advising former president Donald Trump according to The Guardian.