• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • History
      • National Presidents
    • Executive Board
    • FOP Associates
      • Board of Directors
    • FOP Auxiliary
      • Board
      • History
      • National Presidents
      • Memorial Service
      • Programs
        • Scholarship
      • Member Benefits
    • General Counsel
  • Lodge Resources
    • Licensed Merchandise Vendors
    • Specialty Member Cards
    • IRS Compliance for FOP Lodges
  • News and Events
    • News
    • FOP Journal
    • Press Releases
    • Remarks
    • Awards
      • Member of the Year
        • Nomination Guidelines
      • Canterbury Leadership
    • Calendar
    • 2023 Biennial National Conference & Expo
      • Details
      • EXPO
      • National Conference Locations
  • FAQs
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • COVID-19
Fraternal Order of Police

Fraternal Order of Police

The Voice of Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers

  • Become a Member
  • Shop
  • Legal Defense Plan
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • About
      • History
        • National Presidents
      • Executive Board
      • FOP Associates
        • Board of Directors
      • FOP Auxiliary
        • Board
        • History
        • National Presidents
        • Contact FOPA
        • Memorial Service
        • Programs
          • Scholarship
        • Member Benefits
      • General Counsel
  • News and Events
    • News and Events
      • News
      • FOP Journal
      • Press Releases
      • Remarks
      • Awards
        • Member of the Year
          • Nomination Guidelines
        • Kenneth Canterbury Excellence in Leadership Award
      • Calendar
      • 2023 Biennial National Conference & Expo
        • Details
        • EXPO
        • National Conference Locations
  • Lodge Locations
  • Labor
    • Labor
      • Labor Services
      • Labor Education
      • Labor Resources
        • Common Labor Relations Terms
        • Webinars
      • Research
      • Janus Decision
      • Salary Information
      • The International Council of Police Representative Associations
  • Government & Media Affairs
    • Government & Media Affairs
      • About
      • Top Priorities
        • Social Security Issues
        • Collective Bargaining
        • Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act
      • Legislation We Support
      • Congressional Testimony
      • Letters
      • Press Releases
      • Legislative Resources
      • Weekly Updates
      • Legislative Archives
      • Political Action Committee
        • FAQs
  • FOP University
    • FOP University
      • American Intercontinental University
      • American Military University
      • Ashland University
      • George Washington University
      • Montreat College
      • National University
      • Notre Dame College
      • Olivet College
      • Rosemont College
      • Tiffin University
      • Trident University International
      • Union Institute & University
      • University of Cincinnati
      • University of Management and Technology
      • University of Maryland Global Campus
      • University of San Diego
      • University of the Cumberlands
      • Upper Iowa University
      • Walden University
      • Waldorf University
      • Free College Benefit
      • Union College Benefit
  • Training
    • Training
      • On-Site Training Catalog
        • Labor Courses
        • Law Enforcement Courses
        • Lodge Administration Courses
      • Officer Wellness Training
  • Officer Wellness
    • Officer Wellness
      • Mission Statement
      • Approved Provider Bulletin (APB)
      • Locate a Vetted & Approved Provider
      • Power in Peers
      • Officer Wellness Training
      • Newsletters & Webinars
      • Crisis Hotlines
      • Wellness Committee
      • Wellness Surveys
      • Terms and Conditions
  • Member Benefits
    • Member Benefits
      • Communications
      • Education
      • Financial
      • Health
      • Information Protection
      • Insurance
      • Legacy Planning
      • Legal Defense
      • Products
      • Senior Living
      • Travel
  • FOP Foundation
    • FOP Foundation
      • Disaster Relief
        • Disaster Area Response Team (DART)
        • LEFRI
          • Overview
          • How can Agencies prepare for disaster?
            • Lesson Plans
          • How can Officers prepare for disaster?
          • How can Families prepare for disaster?
          • In-Place Sheltering
          • Model Family Readiness Policy
          • Links & Resources
      • Educational Programs
      • National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service
  • Community Partners
    • Community Partners
      • Cops & Kids
      • Easterseals
      • Faith & Blue
      • Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
      • Veterans Partnership
  • Lodge Resources
    • Lodge Resources
      • Licensed Merchandise Vendors
      • Specialty Member Cards
      • IRS Compliance for FOP Lodges
  • FAQs
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • COVID-19
  • Become a Member
  • Shop
  • Legal Defense Plan
  • Donate
Search

Letters

National Fraternal Order of Police

National Fraternal Order of Police

Patrick Yoes National President

Jim Pasco Executive Director

328 Massachusetts Ave NE | Washington DC 20002

(202) 547-8189 | legislative@fop.net

09 February 2023

The Honorable Maria E. Cantwell
Chairman
Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Ted Cruz
Ranking Member
Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Madam Chairman and Senator Cruz,

I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to once again advise you of our strong opposition to the nomination of Gigi B. Sohn to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Once again, Ms. Sohn will face Members of the Committee and answer questions about her anti-police bias and her refusal to disavow many of the extreme positions of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on law enforcement technology, lawful access to digital evidence, and their lionization of Edward J. Snowden. 

Our concerns about her views on “going dark” and lawful access have been thoroughly documented in previous letters, which we have included here, but they are extremely concerning and bear repeating.  Technology companies have responsibilities when it comes to public safety, which include cooperating with lawful and legitimate law enforcement orders, but the EFF has been the leader in efforts to thwart lawful access to digital data and evidence.  Public safety is the paramount responsibility of every governmental official, and Ms. Sohn’s commitment to end-to-end encryption puts public safety in jeopardy.

We are also submitting the FOP’s research into Ms. Sohn’s social media and public policy stances which indicates a deep animus toward law enforcement officers and the rule of law. While she has a Constitutional right to free speech and may express her views freely, she does not have a Constitutional right to be a member of the FCC—in fact, her public record should disqualify her.

Further, and with all due respect, how can you reconcile that Ms. Sohn is a board member of the EFF, which celebrates Mr. Snowden, whom they characterize as a “whistleblower” and a patriot.  He is neither of those things, least of all a patriot.  The fact is that Mr. Snowden was entrusted with highly classified intelligence used to protect and defend the United States, and he chose to unlawfully share that data—putting American lives at risk and seriously damaging our national security.  Mr. Snowden has been charged with three Federal felonies—including two counts of violating the Espionage Act.  He is currently a wanted fugitive who is now a citizen of Russia.  As far as we know, she has not distanced herself from those who believe this man to be a hero.  How is her nomination receiving any serious consideration?

We believe that a vote to favorably report Ms. Sohn’s nomination next week would show a complete disregard for the hard-working men and women of law enforcement who are simply trying to do their jobs and protect the public. Is this the type of nominee that your constituents want representing them on the Federal Communications Commission?

She was unacceptable in the previous Congress and remains unacceptable in the current Congress.   We do not believe she should have been nominated again.  Last year, her nomination was never brought to the floor because she did not have sufficient support, and we have no reason to believe that the midterm elections changed that.  They have certainly not changed the FOP’s priorities or our serious concerns about this nominee.

On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I urge all Members of the Committee to reject the nomination Gigi B. Sohn to serve on the Federal Communications Commission. If I can provide any additional information on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.

Sincerely,

Patrick Yoes
National President

 

cc:       Members, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate

The Voice of Our Nation's Law Enforcement OfficersSince 1915

Download the Letter

Primary Sidebar

  • Government & Media Affairs
    • About
    • Top Priorities
      • Social Security Issues
      • Collective Bargaining
      • Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act
    • Legislation We Support
    • Congressional Testimony
    • Letters
    • Press Releases
    • Legislative Resources
    • Weekly Updates
    • Legislative Archives
    • Political Action Committee
      • FAQs

Footer

Fraternal Order of Police

Fraternal Order of Police

National Headquarters
701 Marriott Drive
Nashville, TN 37214

Toll-free (800) 451-2711
Office (615) 399-0900

  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Use of FOP Trademarks
  • Intellectual Property Notice
  • Online Cancellation and Return Policy
  • Secretary Login

Copyright © 2023 Fraternal Order of Police. | Website design and development by 911MEDIA