Latest news with #AdvancingAmericanFreedom
Fox News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
EXCLUSIVE: Conservative groups urging Trump admin to expose anti-Christian ‘pattern' in Biden FBI
A coalition of conservative groups and individuals is urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to release documents about the "pattern of dishonesty and religious discrimination at the FBI" after they say their search for answers was "stymied at every turn" by the Biden administration. The groups, led by Advancing American Freedom (AAF), issued a Freedom of Information Access Act (FOIA) request to the Department of Justice and the FBI to release documents relating to the surveillance and infiltration of Catholic groups in America and the distribution of the "Richmond Memo" that labeled traditionalist Catholic groups as potential "violent extremists." In an emailed statement sent to Fox News Digital, AAF said that despite its previous FOIA requests to Biden U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, they were "stymied at every turn." Now, under the Trump administration, the group is renewing its quest for answers and broadening its requests to also include any communications directing the destruction of documents relevant to their earlier requests. This comes after a highly controversial FBI memo exposed the agency for expending taxpayer dollars to infiltrate and monitor what it called "radical-traditionalist Catholic[s]" who it said presented possible "Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism." The memo stated that traditionalist Catholic groups "almost certainly" presented "opportunities for threat mitigation through the exploration of new avenues for tripwire and source development." Though the memo caused significant controversy after going public, Wray downplayed it in congressional testimony in 2023, saying, "It was a product by one field office, which, of course, we have scores and scores of these products, and when we found out about it, we took action." Despite Wray's claims that the memo was a single product, Republican leadership on the House Judiciary Committee revealed in 2023 that a document they subpoenaed from the agency details how "both FBI Portland and FBI Los Angeles field offices were involved in or contributed to the creation of FBI's assessment of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists." This led Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and then-committee co-chair Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., to conclude that "the FBI's use of its law enforcement capabilities to intrude on Americans' First Amendment rights is more widespread than initially suspected." This June, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, alleged that at least 13 additional FBI documents and five FBI attachments also used the terminology "radical traditionalist Catholic." In its FOIA request to Bondi and Patel, AAF said that "while this pattern of dishonesty and religious discrimination at the FBI is disturbing, AAF hopes to work alongside the current administration that … [seeks] 'to protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government.'" "The very existence of these reports directly contradicts former FBI Director Christopher Wray's testimony to Congress that the Richmond memo was a 'single product by a single field office,'" wrote AAF. "Thanks to new evidence uncovered by Senator Grassley, we know more 'Radical-Traditionalist Catholic Ideology' documents exist than previously admitted and that the FBI took action to delete documents relevant to AAF's requests," the request went on. "While these developments merit significant concern on their own, they demonstrate a deliberate and untruthful pattern from the Biden Administration of avoiding requests to release documents regarding the surveillance and infiltration of Catholic groups in America." In their request, AAF and the other signers said they are "encouraged" by President Donald Trump's establishment of a Bondi-led Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias and by the FBI and DOJ "working to protect Americans from religious discrimination." In a statement emailed to Fox News Digital, Marc Wheat, general counsel for AAF, said "we urge the Trump administration to provide us with these documents so that the American people can hold the FBI accountable for its treatment of religious groups." "The Biden Administration, in response to our initial request, said that it had no responsive documents, likely because, as we found out later, the FBI thought it had destroyed the relevant documents. Further evidence suggests they failed to destroy the paper trail," he said, adding, "the DOJ has a legal responsibility to comply with and enforce the FOIA law." Other groups and individuals signing onto the request include former Republican senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum and Young America's Foundation. Fox News Digital has reached out to the DOJ and FBI for comment.
The Hill
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Pence applauds Johnson for passing tax cut extension in ‘big, beautiful bill'
Former Vice President Mike Pence wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday to commend him for getting a massive reconciliation package that included an extension of the 2017 tax cuts across the finish line. 'Our team at Advancing American Freedom is deeply grateful for your conservative leadership in extending the Trump-Pence Tax Cuts, and we look forward to working with you to champion the enormous achievement of the One Big Beautiful Bill and defend its merits on the campaign trail as a critical victory for the American people,' Pence wrote to Johnson in a letter obtained first by The Hill. Trump on the Fourth of July signed the 'one, big, beautiful bill' into law containing several of his top campaign promises around taxes, border funding and more. The law makes 2017 tax breaks from Trump's first term permanent, while adding some new tax breaks, such as no taxes on tips up to $25,000 and a 'senior deduction' that will allow more people over 65 to avoid Social Security taxes. 'As Vice President, one of my greatest honors was presiding over the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,' Pence wrote to Johnson. 'We delivered conservative economic wins for the American people then—and you have delivered conservative economic wins for the American people now.' Advancing American Freedom, an advocacy group founded by Pence after he left the White House in 2021, spent significant time and resources pressing lawmakers to extend the tax cuts Trump signed into law in 2017 while Pence was vice president. The group aired ads, met with staff on Capitol Hill and launched a website highlighting the risks of allowing the tax cuts to expire. Advancing American Freedom plans to keep the website up and running as a resource for lawmakers to defend the legislation on the campaign trail.
The Hill
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Pence group launches website to push for extension of Trump tax cuts
An advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence is launching a website and reaching out to lawmakers on Capitol Hill as part of its push to pass an extension of President Trump's 2017 tax cuts in the massive reconciliation package working its way through Congress. The website from Advancing American Freedom, details of which were shared first with The Hill, features resources and facts about the benefits of the tax cuts based on memos and a lengthy report from the advocacy group. The site also highlights data on potential tax increases on families and businesses if the tax cuts expire, as well as information about how the tax cuts generated revenue for the federal government. The launch of the website is being accompanied by a letter sent by Advancing American Freedom to lawmakers and staff touting the site as a 'one-stop shop' for talking points and information about the importance of extending the tax cuts. The Pence-founded group will also renew its ad spending in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for a spot announced earlier this month calling on lawmakers to extend the tax cuts. The Senate is plowing ahead with efforts to pass the massive tax and spending bill that contains key pieces of Trump's agenda, including an extension of the 2017 tax cuts and additional funding for border security. Some Republicans in both chambers have expressed reservations about the bill's impact on the national debt and over Medicaid provisions. Republicans have limited wiggle room in the Senate and House to pass the bill and send it to Trump's desk.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pence praises Jan. 6 rioter for rejecting Trump pardon
Former Vice President Mike Pence penned a letter to a woman who rejected a pardon from President Donald Trump for her participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, lauding her 'honorable decision' and reaffirming his own choice to break with Trump and certify the 2020 election results. Pam Hemphill, a self-described 'Ex-MAGA Granny,' was one of over 1,000 rioters Trump pardoned on the first day of his second term. But Hemphill, who had previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol, has since changed course, flipping from one of the president's most ardent supporters to his vocal critic, posting relentlessly about Trump's 'J6 lies' and attacking his policies. She officially rejected her pardon this spring, saying that she did not want to be 'part of Trump's narrative that the DOJ is weaponized.' Hemphill's loud condemnation of the president — and decision to refuse his pardon — appeared to have made its way to Pence, for whom the Jan. 6 attack marked a massive personal turning point as angry mobs of Trump's supporters threatened to hang the then-vice president for certifying the election results confirming Joe Biden as the 2020 election victor. In a letter dated June 2, Pence expressed 'admiration' for Hemphill's choice to reject her Jan. 6 pardon and reiterated his conviction in his own decision to break with Trump that day in order to ensure the 'peaceful transfer of power' entrusted to him as vice president. 'I am writing to express my admiration for your decision to refuse a presidential pardon and accept responsibility for your actions on January 6th,' Pence wrote. 'January 6th was a tragic day, but I will always believe that I did my duty that day to see the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States.' A staffer for Pence's organization Advancing American Freedom confirmed that the former vice president sent the letter. The staffer was granted anonymity to discuss Pence's private correspondence. Pence's decision to certify the 2020 election results became a symbol of rare resistance to Trump from within his own party, which carries even more weight under his second term in which some Republicans say they fear retaliation from the president if they speak out against him. Just on Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has broken with the president on multiple administration policies, including Congress' 'big beautiful bill' and Trump's approach to Iran, invoked Pence's rocky final weeks as Trump's last vice president in a jab at the president. Replying to a post from current Vice President JD Vance hyping up the 'excitement' of his term, Massie wrote 'Ask Mike Pence about his last month,' seemingly referencing Trump's wrath over Pence's election certification. The former vice president's letter was well-received by Hemphill, who shared it on X, along with a heartfelt message. 'It's been a long and hard journey, but this letter I received today has made every heartache, smear campaign and sleepless night more than worth it!' Hemphill wrote alongside a photograph of the letter posted to X on Tuesday night. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Politico
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Pence praises Jan. 6 rioter for rejecting Trump pardon
Former Vice President Mike Pence penned a letter to a woman who rejected a pardon from President Donald Trump for her participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, lauding her 'honorable decision' and reaffirming his own choice to break with Trump and certify the 2020 election results. Pam Hemphill, a self-described 'Ex-MAGA Granny,' was one of over 1,000 rioters Trump pardoned on the first day of his second term. But Hemphill, who had previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol, has since changed course, flipping from one of the president's most ardent supporters to his vocal critic, posting relentlessly about Trump's 'J6 lies' and attacking his policies. She officially rejected her pardon this spring, saying that she did not want to be 'part of Trump's narrative that the DOJ is weaponized.' Hemphill's loud condemnation of the president — and decision to refuse his pardon — appeared to have made its way to Pence, for whom the Jan. 6 attack marked a massive personal turning point as angry mobs of Trump's supporters threatened to hang the then-vice president for certifying the election results confirming Joe Biden as the 2020 election victor. In a letter dated June 2, Pence expressed 'admiration' for Hemphill's choice to reject her Jan. 6 pardon and reiterated his conviction in his own decision to break with Trump that day in order to ensure the 'peaceful transfer of power' entrusted to him as vice president. 'I am writing to express my admiration for your decision to refuse a presidential pardon and accept responsibility for your actions on January 6th,' Pence wrote. 'January 6th was a tragic day, but I will always believe that I did my duty that day to see the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States.' A staffer for Pence's organization Advancing American Freedom confirmed that the former vice president sent the letter. The staffer was granted anonymity to discuss Pence's private correspondence. Pence's decision to certify the 2020 election results became a symbol of rare resistance to Trump from within his own party, which carries even more weight under his second term in which some Republicans say they fear retaliation from the president if they speak out against him. Just on Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has broken with the president on multiple administration policies, including Congress' 'big beautiful bill' and Trump's approach to Iran, invoked Pence's rocky final weeks as Trump's last vice president in a jab at the president. Replying to a post from current Vice President JD Vance hyping up the 'excitement' of his term, Massie wrote 'Ask Mike Pence about his last month,' seemingly referencing Trump's wrath over Pence's election certification. The former vice president's letter was well-received by Hemphill, who shared it on X, along with a heartfelt message. 'It's been a long and hard journey, but this letter I received today has made every heartache, smear campaign and sleepless night more than worth it!' Hemphill wrote alongside a photograph of the letter posted to X on Tuesday night. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
