House Committee to hold hearings into white nationalism threat
US House Judiciary Committee will launch hearings on the threat of white nationalism in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.
The US House Judiciary Committee will launch hearings on the rising threat of white nationalism in the wake of the Christchurch mosque massacre.
The move came as Donald Trump hit out at ‘fake media’ for trying to blame him for the shooting deaths of 50 people by Australian-born white supremacist Brenton Tarrant.
“The Fake News media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand,” the president tweeted. “They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous!’
The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2019
The Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee will question officials from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security about the threat posed by white nationalists in the US.
The move reflects concerns after the tragedy in New Zealand that western intelligence agencies, including in the US, have not done enough to understand or monitor the potential threat from extreme-right white nationalists like the 28-year-old Tarrant.
But the Democrats also believe the hearings will send a political message that the party is more concerned about white nationalism than Mr Trump, who was criticised by his opponents for playing down the scope of the threat in the wake of the Christchurch massacre.
Since the attacks the FBI has engaged with religious communities across the US to advise of ways to better protect churches, mosques and synagogues from extremist threats.
“The FBI regularly assesses intelligence regarding possible threats to the US and will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners should there be any potential threat to public safety,” the FBI said in a statement. “The attacks in New Zealand serve as a reminder of the need for all of us to be vigilant. The FBI asks members of the public to maintain awareness of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
Republicans have been more reluctant than Democrats to hold Congressional hearings into the issue of white nationalism.
When Neo-Nazis clashed with protesters in Charlottesville in 2017, where one person was killed, Republicans, who then controlled the House, condemned the violence but ignored Democrat calls to hold hearings into the issue.
The White House has pushed back hard against Democrats who claimed a link between the Christchurch shootings and Mr Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric against Muslims and his reaction to the Charlottesville clashes.
Mr Trump’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, said such links were “absurd.”
“This was a disturbed individual, an evil person, and to try and tie him to an American politician from either party probably ignores some of the deeper, difficulties that this sort of activity exposes,” Mr Mulvaney said.
In his manifesto Mr Tarrant wrote before the killings he asked himself the question: “Were/are you a supporter of Donald Trump?”
His answer was: “As a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose? Sure. As a policy maker and leader? Dear god no.”
Mr Trump spoke out strongly against the killings, describing them as disgraceful.
But when asked if he saw white nationalism as a rising threat around the world, Mr Trump replied “I don’t really. I think it’s a very small group of people that have very, very serious problems.’
These comments were criticised by Democrats including presidential contender Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who accused the president of emboldening white supremacists.
“Time and time again, this president has embraced and emboldened white supremacists — and instead of condemning racist terrorists, he covers for them,” she tweeted. “This isn’t normal or acceptable. We have to be better than this,’ she said.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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