A controversial FBI memo that linked segments of traditional Catholic ideology with violent extremism was shared with over 1,000 FBI staff members during the Biden administration, according to newly released records.

According to the Christian Post, Documents obtained through a Senate investigation found that personnel from multiple FBI offices contributed to the memo and that a broader, second version was drafted but never released following political backlash.

The document, referred to as the “Richmond Memo,” originated in the FBI’s Richmond, Virginia, field office and reportedly associated radical-traditionalist Catholic beliefs with racially or ethnically motivated violence. Despite previous claims by FBI leadership that it was an isolated memo, the information was shared widely within the bureau.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the investigation into the memo’s creation and dissemination. His office uncovered 13 related documents and five attachments that made use of the term “radical traditionalist Catholic,” suggesting ongoing concern within the bureau about the relationship between some faith groups and extremist ideologies.

According to Grassley’s findings, the FBI sourced part of its analysis from materials by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an advocacy group that has faced criticism, particularly from conservative circles, for its assessments of religious and political organizations.

Allegations of Misleading Testimony to Congress

The original memo was drafted in January 2023 and warned of alleged links between racial extremists and a subset of Catholic ideology viewed as radical and traditionalist. Controversy surrounding the memo’s release prompted backlash from religious groups, civil liberties advocates, and lawmakers.

In March, August, and October of 2023, as well as January 2024, Grassley sent a series of letters to FBI leadership. These communications criticized not just the content and sources of the memo, but also claimed that the FBI had provided misleading statements during oversight inquiries.

During a July 2023 appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray stated the Richmond memo was an isolated product from one field office and had since been removed. This testimony came under scrutiny after Grassley’s office revealed that FBI offices in Louisville, Kentucky, Portland, Oregon, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin had also contributed to the memo’s preparation.

Discrepancies in Statements From FBI Officials

Wray later clarified in December 2023 that the contributions from those other field offices were limited and only involved verifying facts pertinent to their jurisdictions. However, critics argued that this explanation did not fully address the scope of collaboration on the document.

In addition to the Richmond memo, the FBI had also prepared a second draft intended for distribution across the full agency. That memo was reportedly withheld following media exposure and congressional rebuke.

Grassley said that omitting information about the second draft and the broader involvement of multiple field offices amounted to incomplete and inaccurate testimony before Congress. He further claimed that Wray had used claims of an "incomplete internal review" as justification to avoid answering direct questions from lawmakers.

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

Following the end of Wray’s tenure at the bureau, new FBI Director Kash Patel faced questions about this memo during his January 2024 confirmation hearing before the Senate. In an exchange with Sen. Josh Hawley, Patel committed to holding those responsible for mishandling the memo accountable.

Grassley is now urging Patel to release all records connected to the memo’s production, including how it was developed, supported, and disseminated within the agency. He emphasized the need for full transparency regarding the agency’s use of sources and coordination across field offices.

Advocacy group CatholicVote has also weighed in. Joshua Mercer, co-founder of the group, condemned the memo, calling it a “frontal assault” on religious liberty and the First Amendment.

Advocates Demand Policy Reversal

Mercer called on Director Patel to make public any steps the FBI is taking to undo the memo’s directives. He demanded that those who participated in drafting the memo be held accountable and that any continued surveillance based on religious beliefs be stopped.

“CatholicVote calls on FBI Director Kash Patel to make public the measures his agency is taking to make sure these directives are immediately rescinded, their authors fired, and any ongoing surveillance of Catholics brought to a halt,” Mercer said.

Ongoing investigations and Freedom of Information Act requests are likely to bring additional scrutiny to the FBI’s practices related to religious and political profiling. Lawmakers are watching closely to determine whether reforms will follow under the new bureau leadership.