Fourteen House Republicans, including representatives Chip Roy, Mary Miller, and Andy Harris M.D., have signed a letter addressed to attorney general Merrick Garland to express “deep concern about the prospect of the Department of Justice weaponizing its federal law enforcement power against law-abiding American citizens — this time to target those daring to question gender transition procedures for minors.”
The letter comes in response to one sent to the DOJ on October 3 on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), and Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) which urged the department to take “swift action to investigate and prosecute all organizations, individuals, and entities responsible” for attacks “rooted in an international campaign of disinformation.”
“If the DOJ steps beyond its authority to comply with the AAP, AMA, and CHA’s request, DOJ would do incredible harm to Americans’ freedom of speech and expression, the medical profession, and children and families,” the Republicans’ response letter states. “Given your department’s recent, numerous, politically motivated abuses of power against Americans, our concern is eminently justified.”
The lawmakers request the following information by November 8:
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Please provide copies of any internal or external DOJ communications regarding the letter from the AAP, AMA, and CHA, including but not limited to DOJ’s response.
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Does the DOJ agree with the AAP, AMA, and CHA’s assertion that questioning or criticizing “gender-affirming health care” warrants federal investigation and prosecution?
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Does the DOJ intend to investigate individuals, organizations, and entities that express their opposition to performing “gender-affirming health care” on minors?
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To date, what action, if any, has DOJ taken to investigate and/or prosecute individuals, organizations, and entities for their opposition to “gender-affirming health care”?
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Does DOJ intend to collaborate with technology companies to identify and obtain information on individuals, organizations, and entities that expressed their opposition to “gender-affirming health care” on social media platforms, or has DOJ previously done so?
Representative Roy told National Review: “Under no circumstance should this administration further weaponize federal law enforcement against well-meaning parents rightly concerned with their children’s well-being at the behest of a bunch of leftists in white coats. If they do, Republicans in Congress must be ready for a fight to defund it, full stop.”