FBI Director discusses abortion-related violence
Focus was on how inflammatory things have gotten since Supreme Court decision
(FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the U.S. Senate about terroristic threats within the country on Aug. 4)
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a Senate Committee talked about abortion-related violence this week. He said that the Bureau had opened investigations into planned attacks coming from both abortion rights and anti-abortion groups.
Historically, terrorism within the abortion debate has come from the side opposing the procedure. But much of Wray’s testimony focused on how combustible things were becoming on each side following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, focused on the threats against antiabortion groups. Wray said that he had put out a directive to all the field offices for abortion-related threats after the Dobbs decision was leaked. Wray said he would go after threatening groups from both sides of the issue
(Testimony on abortion begins at 1:06:28)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, rebutted Lee’s questioning by raising attacks on abortion clinics and threats against providers. She said there was a 600 percent increase in stalking of providers last year. She said attacks on clinics and staff had increased 128 percent in 2021.
“Since the leak of the Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs, we have seen violence, violent threats as noted on both sides of the debate,” Klobuchar said. “But a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the window of a crisis pregnancy center in Nashville and arson at a Wyoming abortion clinic.”
Klobuchar asked Wray to discuss the threats on clinics more.
Wray acknowledged the historical attacks on reproductive clinics. He said that there was an intensification of threats since the Supreme Court overturned Roe. The FBI Director said social media contributed to violence across the board.
“There is absolutely the kind that you mentioned as well,” Wray said in response to Klobuchar’s questioning. “I think this is part of a larger phenomenon that we are experiencing in this country right now. I understand that passions run high, especially on an issue like abortion.
“But there are just way too many people who seem to think that justifies engaging in violence and destruction of property and threats of violence.”