MEASURES FOR SAFETY, NOT TO CENSOR

WASHINGTON • Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on Tuesday defended a new initiative to combat a rise in threats targeting school boards and teachers across the U.S., after Republican lawmakers accused the Justice Department of trying to stifle parents’ free speech.

In a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monaco told lawmakers that the Justice Department is not trying to censor speech, but merely coordinate with state and local law enforcement to ensure “there is an awareness of how to report threats that may occur.”

On Monday, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI and federal prosecutors to meet with local and state police to address the “disturbing trend” of threats to public educators.