The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been exonerated by a Department of Justice review after it was found that investigators did not specifically target traditional Catholics as potential racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists. However, the review did note that analysts mistakenly associated a subject’s religious views with his alleged involvement in domestic terrorism activities. The review, conducted by Justice Department Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz in response to a leaked memo from the FBI’s Richmond field office, found that the memo failed to meet analytical tradecraft standards and displayed errors in professional judgment.
The leaked memo, known as the “Richmond Product,” was circulated during an investigation involving an individual identified as “Defendant A,” who was later revealed to be Xavier Lopez. Lopez, who was indicted on federal weapons charges in June, was monitored by the FBI since 2019 due to his extremist views on social media. The review revealed that the suspect expressed neo-Nazi rhetoric and identified as a “Catholic clerical fascist.” The memo detailed his plan to engage in violent activities against the government, which led to his arrest in November 2022. His apartment was found to contain Molotov cocktails and firearms that he was prohibited from possessing.
While the investigation into Lopez was deemed appropriate, the inspector general’s review raised concerns about the memo’s warning regarding potential extremism within specific Catholic churches. The review stated that the memo lacked sufficient evidence to support a relationship between racially motivated violent extremists and Radical Traditional Catholicism ideology. It also highlighted a lack of training and awareness concerning domestic terrorism terminology within the FBI. Despite these criticisms, there was no evidence of malicious intent or improper purpose behind the memo’s creation.
The inspector general’s assessment found no evidence that individuals involved in crafting the memo were ordered to find a link between racially motivated violent extremists and specific religions or political affiliations. The FBI’s inspection division outlined corrective actions taken by the bureau, including enhanced training on analytical tradecraft standards and domestic terrorism terminology, as well as formal admonishments for the employees involved. The FBI emphasized that their investigations are not based solely on First Amendment protected activities, such as religious practices, and are conducted with the aim of protecting communities from potential threats while upholding the constitutional rights of all Americans.
Following the release of the inspector general’s report, the FBI released a statement affirming that the intelligence product did not meet their standards and was promptly removed from their systems. The agency reiterated that there was no intent to investigate Catholics or individuals based on their religion, as confirmed by the inspector general’s findings. Lopez was indicted on federal charges for possessing ammunition while being a convicted felon and possessing destructive devices. He pleaded guilty to possessing destructive devices and is scheduled for sentencing in September. Preliminary discussions to draft a similar memo for more field offices were discontinued after the initial memo became public.
