Congresswoman Nikema Williams Leads Call for the FBI to Investigate Website “Watch Lists” Posing a Threat to Federal Employees’ Safety

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led a letter to Director Kash Patel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), calling for an investigation into “watch lists” on websites that label certain federal employees as “targets,” now referring to them as “dossiers.” The American Accountability Foundation has created DEIWatchList.com, DeptOfEdWatchList.com, and DHSWatchList.com. These lists include employees from multiple agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, and the White House. Congresswoman Williams emphasized that the impact of these “watch lists” on the safety of federal employees and the potential for criminal activity facilitated by their continued existence is deeply concerning.

People listed as “targets” on the “watch list” websites have reported instances of doxxing and harassment. The public servants named have reported having pizzas anonymously delivered to their homes, a form of intimidation demonstrating that self-appointed, malicious vigilantes have discovered their home addresses. Many have been forced to take down their public social media profiles due to relentless online attacks. With these websites now appearing as the top Google result for many of these individuals, many fear leaving their homes due to safety concerns.

The reasons noted for being placed on these “watch lists” include:

• Commenting on a LinkedIn post about Transgender Day of Visibility
• Donating $5 to the DSCC in 2012
• Interning for an organization that helped people register for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act from 2013-16

The members wrote:

“Intimidation tactics like these that are designed to drive dedicated public experts out of their jobs are vile, and undermine the integrity and efficacy of our civil service. Because of the harassment these websites have brought upon these individuals, talented and qualified people will be driven out of government service -and talented and qualified people will be dissuaded from entering government service in the future. This means less effective security enforcement, less successful research into lifesaving medical treatments, and fewer people getting the Medicare and Medicaid services they are entitled to.”

As the primary agency for federal criminal investigations, the Congresswoman is urging the Bureau to remain vigilant, thoroughly examine all concerning reports of potentially illicit conduct related to these websites, and take any necessary investigative or law enforcement actions.

The letters to the pension funds were signed by the following members: Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Rep. André Carson (In-07), Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Gerald Connolly (VA-11), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Rep. Henry Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rep. Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rep. Robert J. Menendez (NJ-08), Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), & Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07)

Read the full letter here.