This is part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1 may be found here.
The FBI was created as a watchdog to enforce federal laws. But like President Gremlin’s dog, Major, it has become an out-of-control menace. When a dog can no longer be trusted, a responsible owner has only three options: train it, restrain it, or put it down.
Train It
The bureau has been diverging from its motto of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity for at least 30 years. That divergence began gradually, and accelerated as the untrustworthy have advanced to leadership. That miscreants like Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Charles McGonigal reached the upper levels of the bureau, indicates that “bad apples” are now dispersed throughout the “basket.” Even more alarmingly, the “bad apples” have been mentoring and developing other agents as they come up through the hierarchy for decades. They have trained at least two generations of special agents to operate as if honesty is for chumps, and that the laws of the land only apply to those who aren’t paid with federal tax dollars.
It will take at least 40 years to infuse all layers of the FBI with agents who understand that they serve the citizens of the United States, and are constrained by the Constitution. The first question must be: Is the FBI worth the effort? Are there enough “good apples” in an otherwise rotten basket, to warrant a multi-decade effort? The hard truth is that it may be easier to replace the bureau than rehabilitate it.
Assuming we judge the FBI worthy of salvation, independent oversight of the initiative will be required. The oversight cannot be subservient to the Director, because all levels of leadership require remediation. To change the culture, everyone must be developed academically and behaviorally – especially the leadership ranks. To accomplish that, an oversight function will need sweeping authority to …
- Oversee and modify all training – both in the classroom and on the job.
- Audit work products such as affidavits, reports, and warrants.
- Approve all promotion and disciplinary actions.
- Conduct impromptu, and even clandestine, ethics testing of personnel.
- Terminate any agent who fails to live the FBI motto.
Such a function cannot be staffed from the “rotten basket.” To ensure integrity, the oversight function could be staffed with retired agents who have publicly called for bureau overhaul, whistleblowers who have attempted to hold their brethren accountable, or members of state and local law enforcement.
Restrain It
Our next option for a vicious dog is to leash it. Restraining the bureau could be done separately, or in conjunction with attempting to rehabilitate it. The question becomes: How can we allow the FBI to serve the public, but without the ability to hurt the public?
One option would be to take investigatory leadership away from the FBI. Make agents serve under local law enforcement or other federal agencies during all criminal investigations. That would place other authorities in a position to review and approve all FBI actions – reducing the likelihood of rogue operations. This option has the benefit of sending a strong message to other agencies: Behave yourselves. You could be next.
Another option would be to reclassify agents from GS 1811 sworn law enforcement officers, to GS 1810 general investigators. This would allow them to continue investigating violations of federal law, but would require them to work through other agencies for arrests – providing a safety net for bureau malfeasance.
Finally, we could add a layer of accountability by giving other law enforcement agencies the ability to police the FBI. The FBI currently uses the Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law statute to prosecute local officials for violation of civil rights. We should legislatively grant authority to state and local law enforcement to police the FBI for compliance to the same statute – giving those the closest to those the dog is intended to serve the ability to “yank the leash.”
Put It Down
If we find that we lack the political willpower for a multi-decade rehabilitation project, and that restraining the bureau would be impractical, the only remaining option is to put the vicious dog down.
Eliminate the FBI as a law enforcement agency. Transfer it’s criminal investigatory and national security missions to other agencies such as the DEA, ATF, CIA, Secret Service, and U.S. Marshals.
The FBI could then become a mere service organization to other police services providing
- Forensics analysis,
- Data analysis – searching for cross-jurisdictional criminal patterns, and
- Technical advice.
Granted, there is a risk of these other agencies becoming corrupt. But the dissolution of the mighty FBI would stand as a constant and cautionary warning.
Clearly, fixing the FBI in any meaningful way will require long-term commitment. It’s unfortunate that we’ve allowed the bureau to reach its current level of corruption, but that’s on us for electing leaders who failed to hold it accountable. Regardless of the disruption it may cause, action is required. Our constitutional republic cannot survive with a federal police force which targets political opponents, applies the laws for its convenience, creates crimes to solve them, and lies with impunity to its masters.
Author Bio: John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker, and American Free News Network. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.
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