A leaked internal FBI guide about violent extremism lists the Second Amendment, the "Betsy Ross flag" and Jan. 6 protester Ashli Babbitt as "Domestic Violent Terrorism Symbols" used by militant extremist groups in the United States.
The guide, provided by an FBI whistleblower to the investigative media organization Project Veritas, says the symbols are "used by Anti-Government or Anti-Authority Violent Extremists."
Symbols listed on the guide also include the "Punisher skull" the Spartan helmet and "2A." The guide says militant violent extremists, also known as MVEs, "justify their existence with the Second Amendment, due to the mention of a 'well regulated Militia' as well as the right to bear arms."
Historical imagery listed on the guide also includes the Gadsden flag, which contains a snake and the phrase "Don't tread on me," the Liberty Tree and other general "Revolutionary War Imagery."
The FBI says MVEs consider people such as Ashli Babbitt, who was killed by a U.S. Capitol police officer during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and Vicki Weaver, who was killed during the Ruby Ridge standoff, to be martyrs.
The same document even references Timothy McVeigh, who killed 168 people during the Oklahoma City, Okllahoma, bombing, as an inspiration for MVEs.
The leak comes after Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley earlier this week warned that if recent accusations of political bias in the FBI are true, it will show that the federal law enforcement agency is "substantially corrupted."
Last month, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) demanded FBI Director Chris Wray answer questions about whistleblower reports that the agency is "padding its domestic violent extremist data."
