Durbin Questions Witnesses in Judiciary Committee Hearing on Domestic Terrorism

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Professor Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on domestic terrorism following the mass shooting in Buffalo that killed ten Black Americans in a racist act of violence. Durbin asked Professor Pape about the threat of the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory and the influence of social media that has exacerbated these acts of violence in our society today.

“Professor, ‘Great Replacement’ theory is nothing new, some form of it has been around forever. In the United States we have seen evidence of it with the activities of the Ku Klux Klan during reconstruction and even into the 20th century. I grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, in the early 1900s with the Great Migration. There was a visceral reaction against African Americans that lead to a race riot in the city, as well as my current hometown of Springfield, Illinois, that led to the creation of the NAACP. We have seen this many times over. The only question comes to my mind is, is this a different time? Do you find in your research with the social media approach to information in America, is that exacerbating this situation? Can we add to that automatic weapons that we are giving to these mad men who are inspired by this racism? The means to kill so many innocent people as they did in Buffalo. Is that the difference?” asked Durbin.

Professor Pape confirmed the combination of volatile capabilities, including automatic weapons, with volatile ideas and beliefs in the mainstream, has created a “deadly cocktail” in the United States, which as a result is more likely to have these types of deadly domestic terrorism events in comparison to other countries. Additionally, he noted that politicians and media figures in the United States who are advocating for the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory are receiving political and financial benefits and therefore more likely to continue to spew this dangerous idea.

Durbin also questioned Michael German, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent who specialized in domestic terrorism and covert operations, about the role freedom of speech has in relation to these violent acts. They also discussed the Trump Administration’s decision to shift the approach to tracking domestic terrorism incidents to obfuscate the white supremacist threat.

“We really have a challenge in respect to the Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and freedom of speech. And yet we see the reality reported to us by law enforcement here in Washington and across the nation. Many of these statements are pushing people into extreme behavior, violent behavior. There is no easy way to find a line to be drawn to respect the Constitution and keep America safe, what are your thoughts?” asked Durbin.

Mr. German stated he is concerned the FBI and Department of Justice’s (DOJ) concept of terrorism and radicalization needs to be better developed and based in evidence to properly combat the violent, criminal threats posed by domestic terrorists. Durbin’s Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which was filibustered by Senate Republicans two weeks ago, would authorize domestic terrorism offices within DOJ, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and FBI, and require biannual reporting on the state of domestic terrorism threats. It also requires the offices to focus their limited resources on the most significant threats, as determined by the joint report. The intent of the legislation is to better equip these agencies and enable them to work together to effectively identify risks.   

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

This hearing builds on years of efforts by Durbin to address the growing threat of domestic violent extremist groups and individuals (DVEs), including racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists and violent white supremacists, and the federal government’s efforts to combat this threat.  Durbin first held a hearing on the domestic terrorism threat in 2012, after a white supremacist murdered seven Sikh worshipers in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.  In March 2021, Durbin held his first oversight hearing as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee on domestic terrorism and FBI oversight, and a second hearing on domestic terrorism in January 2022, one year after the January 6, 2021, insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.

Durbin has additionally taken to the Senate floor numerous times to call out the white supremacist rhetoric used by Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory that has fueled hateful acts of racist violence.  According to the New York Times, more than 400 episodes of Tucker Carlson’s news program—which has attracted more viewers than any other show in the history of cable news—have alluded to this hateful conspiracy theory.  Further, Durbin is the lead author of the bipartisan and bicameral Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA)—a bill Durbin first introduced in 2017, and which Senate Republicans filibustered just last month

-30-