1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to protect the First Amendment rights of your constituents from escalating government intimidation and surveillance. Recent cases demonstrate a disturbing pattern of federal agencies targeting ordinary Americans for exercising their constitutional right to free speech. Jamie Bonkiewicz of Nebraska received a visit from Secret Service and local police after posting criticism of Karoline Leavitt on social media. Agents questioned her about attending demonstrations, owning weapons, and traveling to political rallies. Despite the agent ultimately calling it a "non-issue," the intimidation effect is clear. Barbara Wien, a retired peace studies professor from Northern Virginia, had her phone confiscated by FBI, Secret Service, and Virginia State Police under a search warrant for distributing fliers and making critical social media posts about Stephen Miller. Most alarmingly, Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson had her home searched and her laptop, smartphone, and Garmin watch seized in an apparent effort to identify her confidential sources. This occurred after the Trump administration's Department of Justice under Pam Bondi cancelled Biden-era protections that prevented such searches of journalists. In Minnesota, following the shooting death of protester Renee Good by an ICE agent, the administration opened criminal investigations of the deceased woman, her wife Becca Good, the Mayor of Minneapolis, and the Governor of Minnesota. The ICE agent who killed Renee Good faces no investigation. These actions create a chilling effect that suppresses legitimate political discourse and dissent. This is not how a democracy functions. I urge you to introduce or co-sponsor legislation that restores protections for journalists, prohibits federal agencies from investigating citizens solely for protected speech, and requires transparency when surveillance is conducted. Please also use your oversight authority to investigate these cases and hold agencies accountable for constitutional violations. Our constituents deserve to exercise their First Amendment rights without fear of government retaliation.