Five Reasons Why the FBI’s Most Wanted Domestic Terrorists List Should Have You Outraged

If you want a clear idea of the FBI’s upside-down terrorism priorities, look no further than the bureau’s Most Wanted Domestic Terrorists lists.

CNN recently ran a fluff story on the FBI’s list that could have been written by the bureau itself (“The FBI’s goal, of course, is to prevent ‘homegrown attacks’ before they happen,” CNN reminds us). While CNN and the FBI are proudly commemorating the  65th anniversary of the government’s most wanted fugitives program, here’s what you should really know about the FBI’s lists:

1) Two of the most wanted “domestic terrorists” are environmentalists who never harmed anyone.

Joseph Dibee and Josephine Overaker are wanted in connection with crimes by the Earth Liberation Front in the name of defending the environment. They are accused of property destruction, but no physical violence is alleged. In fact, in the history of underground groups like the ELF, no human being has ever been injured.

2) One of the “Most Wanted Terrorists” is an animal rights activist.

Daniel Andreas San Diego is accused of serious property crimes, and was listed alongside Osama bin Laden on the FBI’s website: the fact that the FBI thinks there is any comparison whatsoever speaks volumes.

3) The FBI makes no mention of hate crimes.

None. In 2013, there were 5,928 reported hate crimes, according to the FBI. About 49 percent were racially motivated, and 21 percent related to the victim’s sexual orientation.

4) All of the other “domestic terrorists” are leftists from the 1970s and 1980s. 

Don’t you feel safer knowing the FBI is focused on members of the Black Panthers and communist groups, accused of crimes 35+ years ago?

5) The FBI doesn’t include right-wing fugitives.

There’s not a single right-wing criminal on the list, including people wanted for violent crimes. For instance, David Burgert is a former leader of the anti-government militia Project 7. He once plotted to assassinate local officials in Montana, and pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a machine gun. In 2011, he led cops on a police chase, then jumped out of his Jeep, shot at police, and ran into the woods. He’s still a fugitive. But police say his case is “on the back burner for now.”

When we see stories today about the FBI spying on Keystone pipeline protesters, or the FBI entrapping environmentalists in faux terrorism plots, we need to remember that they aren’t isolated instances.

These misplaced priorities are coming from the top down.

It’s time for a full investigation and overhaul of the FBI’s domestic terrorism priorities. The FBI needs to be held accountable for focusing on environmentalists and animal rights groups, and leftists from decades ago, while more serious threats go unaddressed.