VIDEO: Blackburn Sounds Alarm on Biden FBI Weaponization, Praises Memphis Safe Task Force Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling out the weaponization of the Biden Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following a report that former Special Counsel Jack Smith allegedly tracked the private communications of eight U.S. Senators. Senator Blackburn also praised President Trump's incredible success so far in cracking down on crime in Memphis and the need to pass her Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act.

Click here to download Senator Blackburn's remarks on the Senate floor.

REMARKS AS PREPARED

Under Joe Biden and Chris Wray, FBI Was Rotten to the Core

"We know that under Joe Biden and Chris Wray's leadership, the FBI was rotten to the core.

In many ways, they oversaw the worst political corruption of the justice system in our nation's history.

They raided Mar-a-Lago, indicted President Trump on baseless charges, and weaponized America's top law enforcement agency against conservatives, parents, and Americans of faith.

The Biden FBI's Weaponization Reached the Halls of Congress

On Monday, we found out that this abuse of power reached the halls of Congress.

Thanks to internal FBI documents provided by Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino to Chairman Grassley, we now know that the Biden FBI tracked the private communications of eight U.S. Senators, including myself.

The one thing we have in common: We're all Republicans.

According to the documents, the Biden FBI tracked who we were calling on our cell phones, where we made the calls, and the location of where the calls were received.

This abuse of authority was despicable. But it went well beyond us.

The Trump Administration Is Committed to Total Transparency for the American People

Earlier this year, Chairman Grassley released whistleblower disclosures showing that the Biden FBI obtained the government-issued cellphones of President Trump and Former Vice President Pence.

Last month, we learned that the agency launched a political investigation into nearly 100 Republican and conservative groups, including the Republican National Committee, the Republican Attorneys General Association, and Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA.

We're only learning about this weaponization of government because the Trump administration is committed to total transparency for the American people.

I appreciate Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino for launching an investigation into this corruption.

Rest assured: We will expose every last one of the leftist bureaucrats who thought this was okay.

The Trump Justice Department is Enforcing the Rule of Law in Memphis

Yesterday, my colleagues and I on the Judiciary Committee had the pleasure of hearing from Attorney General Bondi, who has done so much to restore accountability at the Justice Department.

Instead of waging political investigations, the department under her leadership is focused on enforcing the rule of law-including in Memphis.

As we speak, the Justice Department and FBI are among 13 federal agencies that are on the ground working with local and state officials to support the Memphis Police Department and lock up violent criminals.

President Trump's Memphis Safe Task Force Has Already Delivered Tremendous Results

In just over a week of operations, President Trump's Memphis Safe Task Force has delivered tremendous results.

As of Monday, authorities have made 321 arrests, including…

82 on ICE warrants;

41 on gun charges,

18 for sex offenses,

And 1 for homicide.

This support has been desperately needed.

Last year, Memphis saw the highest crime rate in the country. In some parts of the city, shootings, robberies, and murders are a daily occurrence.

Memphis Police Officers Are Now Empowered to Track Down Violent Criminals

Memphians have long demanded action to address the city's crime crisis. But the Memphis Police Department is short 500 officers, with just over 20 people in its recruitment class.

With federal law enforcement helping keep the peace, Memphis police are now empowered to track down repeat, violent criminals, including gang members who have terrorized city residents for far too long.

At the same time as the Memphis operation, the Trump administration has surged federal resources to other crime-plagued cities to restore law and order.

In Portland and Chicago, ICE agents have had to overcome obstruction efforts by Democrat officials to detain criminal illegal aliens.

Congress Must Pass the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act to End Cashless Bail Nationwide

To preserve the hard-fought wins of the Memphis Safe Task Force and federal law enforcement across the country, we need to make certain that these violent criminals remain behind bars.

Yet in too many cases, soft-on-crime prosecutors and judges have allowed violent criminals back on the streets without bail to continue their criminal activity.

Last year in Memphis, an 18-year-old who was released without bond after stealing multiple vehicles went on to murder a man in an attempted robbery.

Just days earlier, a man released without bail after being charged with auto theft and unlawful possession of a weapon killed a Memphis police officer in a shootout.

During a Judiciary Committee hearing that I chaired last week on "Blue City Chaos and Tragedy," State Senator Brent Taylor, who represents parts of Memphis, told me that soft-on-crime prosecutors are the "weak link" in the city's law enforcement efforts.

After years of senseless violence, we cannot allow the hard work of the Memphis Safe Task Force to go to waste.

To ensure that the rule of law is enforced, I recently reintroduced the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act.

This is legislation backed by the White House that would ban the award of certain federal funds to states and localities that limit the use of cash bail.

There must be consequences for far-left officials who put criminals over law-abiding citizens. This legislation would deliver it."

https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/10/crime/video-blackburn-sounds-alarm-on-biden-fbi-weaponization-praises-memphis-safe-task-force-success