Amid the ongoing government shutdown and federal worker layoffs, it appears the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, is busy at work with interrogation and supposedly spooking protesters. Case in point is a special-needs teacher in Tucson, Arizona, who says he was stunned when two FBI agents showed up at his door just recently, all because he attended an anti-ICE protest months earlier.
Miles Serafini, a 26-year-old special needs teacher, is the subject of the investigation. He told independent reporter Ken Klippenstein that two FBI agents visited him around October 17, identifying themselves only as “James” and “Keith.” The agents allegedly questioned Serafini for nearly an hour about a June 11 protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.
“We came out here to ask you questions regarding a protest that happened on the 11th of June. We’ve been just basically going around asking questions for a few people … and your name was brought up,” according to the FBI agents, transcript courtesy of Ken Klippenstein.
Serafini said he joined the demonstration to express his opposition to deportations, but had no role in organizing the event and hadn’t committed any crime. Still, the agents seemed less interested in him and instead wanted to find out about the protests’ “leader” of sorts. “I could tell by their questioning that they were trying to figure out the shadowy entity behind the protest.. What a waste of their time to go after [expletive] that doesn’t exist,” says Serafini.
Additionally, Serafin claimed the agents showed him photos of protesters, asked for his phone, and warned that they might contact him again. He refused to cooperate further, which seemed to frustrate the FBI agents. Despite failing to advance their investigation, however, the FBI agents have apparently spooked Serafini, and the teacher opted not to join the October 18 No Kings Protest out of fear.
People online were mocking the FBI agents, but are worried
While the alleged FBI agents’ line of questioning might seem ridiculous and bordering on conspiracy theory, its effect on Serafini was profound and likely achieved something similar with the other people they supposedly visited and questioned. A surprise FBI visit, after all, can be threatening. Hence, some people online have provided legal pointers and what to do in case they come knocking at your door.
“Do not speak with law enforcement unless you have an attorney present. LEOs hold all the cards in an interview. They are permitted to lie to you, but you are not permitted to lie to them. Depending on your jurisdiction, there are things they can ask which you are required to respond to, so know your rights. There are plenty of lawyers with good tips about things like this on their websites,” according to a Tucson local.
Some, however, found the FBI’s investigation an absurd waste of taxpayer money, especially if the purpose is to find whoever was “funding” the anti-ICE and anti-Trump protests. “Why go after violent criminals when you can go after peaceful protesters,” mocks a Reddit user, with another commenting that “If not Gestapo, why Gestapo shaped?”
