WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) praised the Biden Administration’s National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, which was released this morning.  Rep. Raskin has been calling for a comprehensive strategy since becoming Chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in 2019.

“I applaud President Biden for setting forth this bold, whole-of-government approach to combating the terrifying resurgence of political white supremacy and spread of domestic violent extremism,” Rep. Raskin said.  “We have known for years that the crisis of violent white supremacy cannot be confronted without an aggressive and coordinate response at the federal level.  After years of malign neglect and winking encouragement by his predecessor, President Biden is finally and expertly responding to this danger.”

Through the Subcommittee, Rep. Raskin has repeatedly engaged with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the urgent need to take this threat seriously. He’s led hearings on the transnational nature of the threat, the crisis of white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement, and the rising threat of militia extremism.  As recently as March 2021, Rep. Raskin pressed the FBI for more information about its strategy to combat the insider threat posed by domestic violent extremists in law enforcement following the January insurrection.

“For several years, I have been urging the Executive Branch to address violent white supremacy in a coordinated and serious manner that remedies the shortcomings in our current approach.  Less than six months into his term, President Biden has committed himself to doing just that,” said Rep. Raskin.  “I look forward to working with the Administration to fully implement this landmark strategy to ensure that our Nation can respond to the evolving threat of violent white supremacy and domestic extremism.”

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