Weaponizing the Department of Justice was a betrayal of the American people – and the incoming Trump administration must work to rebuild trust.

The primary objective of the new attorney general and FBI director in the Trump administration will be to dismantle the ideological weaponization of the DOJ and FBI that has suppressed talented individuals, silenced others, and betrayed the American people.

One clear illustration of this manipulation is the case of senior FBI Supervisory Agent Zach Schoffstall, who was compelled to resign from the FBI after 16 years of outstanding service for refusing to be involved in a fabricated domestic-terrorism prosecution.

“I brought embarrassment to the bureau. I refused to take a knee to the machine,” he stated.

The story starts in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on June 11, 2022, where local police received information about a group of masked men in a U-Haul truck heading to disrupt the annual Pride parade.

They intercepted the truck and arrested 31 men from the white nationalist group Patriot Front. The men were charged with conspiracy to riot, spent a night in jail, and were found with flagpoles and flags but no weapons.

Although there was no violence that day, the incident drew attention as part of the Biden administration’s agenda to prioritize “white supremacy” as a major terrorist threat in the U.S.

Attorney General Merrick Garland introduced the “National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism” a year prior, highlighting racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists as the primary domestic threat.

The administration targeted supporters of Donald Trump, with Biden labeling them as “semi-fascist” and “ultra-MAGA,” culminating in allegations of Trump being compared to Hitler during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The federal law enforcement system was reorganized to address the perceived white supremacy threat, despite the absence of criminal activities.

Pressure from DC

Schoffstall served as the FBI’s supervisory senior resident agent in northern Idaho at the time, facing pressure from Washington to find domestic terrorism incidents in the region due to its history with neo-Nazis, like the Aryan Nations group.

Despite the local community’s sensitivity to white supremacy accusations, Schoffstall was unwilling to fabricate crimes that were non-existent while focusing on real criminal cases.

When the Patriot Front incident occurred, the DOJ seized the opportunity to portray it as proof of domestic terrorism, relying on exaggerated information and allegations that Schoffstall and his FBI agents found baseless.

Despite the lack of evidence to support the accusations, Schoffstall stood by his agents. However, he was eventually transferred, demoted, and ultimately dismissed.

Despite numerous positive reviews and character references from law enforcement officials and FBI agents vouching for his integrity, Schoffstall was removed from his beloved job.

While the incident in Coeur d’Alene turned out to be insignificant, the legal aftermath exposed flaws in the case and subsequent prosecutions.

Lawfully formed group

Schoffstall revealed that counterterrorism headquarters, Idaho US Attorney’s Office, and the DOJ had previously investigated Patriot Front and its leader, disproving claims of criminal activity.

However, the DOJ refused to accept these findings, insisting on characterizing the group as violent right-wing extremists despite evidence to the contrary.

Despite the conflicts with the DOJ, Schoffstall remained steadfast, resulting in his dismissal due to his perceived failure to push for a more aggressive investigation.

While he believed in the integrity of his actions, the dismissal underscored the extent to which justice can be manipulated for political purposes.

Several legal challenges and criticisms arose over the prosecution process, highlighting the questionable practices of the DOJ and the FBI in pursuit of their political agenda.

Ultimately, the case ended with minimal convictions and fines, with judges expressing doubts over the justifiability of the arrests and legal procedures followed.

Despite the legal disputes and lack of substantial evidence, the FBI refused to provide exculpatory evidence to defense attorneys, fueling further criticism of their handling of the case.

The DOJ and FBI’s approach to the case served as a glaring example of justice being compromised in the pursuit of political objectives.