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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) – A group of Republican senators, led by Ted Cruz of Texas, has issued a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, challenging him to reject the request of top medical associations to prosecute journalists who expose “transgender” surgeries and drugs for children. 

The action follows a joint letter sent to Garland from the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), which insisted that the federal government investigate and prosecute journalists who raise awareness of “gender transition” procedures conducted on minors, as previously reported by LifeSiteNews.  

Conservative activist Chris Rufo, who first highlighted the letter from the medical groups, also shared the news of the senators’ response with the public.  

“If there is a bedrock principle in American self-governance, it is that the federal government has no place in quashing or criminalizing civic discourse,” the letter states. “The issue of how best to treat minors struggling with their gender dysphoria is the subject of ongoing and emotional debate, which Americans have a protected First Amendment right to fully engage in. The strength of our democracy is dependent on the ability of all citizens to peacefully participate in public debate without fear of persecution from your agency or any other.” 

The letter emphasizes the distinction between genuine threats of violence and “parents who voice their concerns about the health and safety of their children.” The first situation “should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” and the second is simply exercising First Amendment rights. 

Cruz also pointed to Garland’s confirmation hearing, during which the senator asked Garland if he would lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) without “target[ing] the political opponents of this Administration.” According to Cruz, Garland replied, “Absolutely. It’s totally inappropriate for the Department to target any individual because of their politics or their position in a campaign.” 

READ: The ghastly truth about ‘gender transitioning’ is coming out, and liberal elites can’t stop it

“You have already broken that promise more than once,” Cruz wrote. “And we are concerned you are poised to do so once again.” 

Additionally, the senators outlined three questions, requesting that Garland send a response by November 1. 

First, the letter asks if Garland “or any other Department of Justice employee, solicit[ed] the October 3 letter” from any or all of the medical groups. The second inquiry questions whether anyone from the AAP, AMA, or the CHA has been in communication with anyone from the DOJ before or after sending the letter. “If so, please provide all responsive records of those conversations in an unredacted format.” 

Lastly, the letter asks if “engaging in a so-called ‘intentional campaign of disinformation’ (e.g. members of the public engaging in discourse on their differing views about the gender reassignment of minors) a prosecutable offense? If so, what statute is implicated?” 

The letter is signed by Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Mike Lee of Utah, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. 

As outlined by Cruz, Joe Biden’s administration “has previously involved itself in stifling the critical right of parents to make decisions with respect to their children.” A 2021 letter to Biden from the National School Board Association (NSBA) requested the DOJ to take action against parents who opposed certain left-wing educational practices such as critical race theory and mask mandates within schools. The NSBA characterized these parents as “domestic terrorists.” 

RELATED: Vanderbilt Medical Center to pause mutilating gender surgeries for minors following scandal

“Five days later, in response to the letter, you issued your October 4 memorandum directing the FBI to involve itself in policing public discourse.” 

Taking the lead from the guidance, the FBI proceeded to launch investigations into several parents taking a stand for their children’s education. Later, it was discovered that Miguel Cardona, the Secretary of Education for the Biden administration, had “solicited the NSBA to write this letter to the White House.” 

Cruz called Garland’s response to the NSBA letter “an inappropriate message” enabling federal law enforcement to censor and silence views which oppose the government. He added that the recent letter from the medical organizations is “remarkably similar” to last year’s school board controversy.  

“We call upon you to reaffirm that you will faithfully protect the First Amendment rights of all Americans to peacefully debate this and all other policy questions, irrespective of viewpoint,” the letter states. “The weaponization of federal law enforcement agencies like the DOJ, in order to produce preferred policy outcomes, cannot continue—our democracy depends on it.” 

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