Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) has come forward to disclose that he found himself under scrutiny from the Biden administration’s Quiet Skies program, which allegedly employed air marshals to monitor passengers deemed suspicious as well as individuals under active FBI terrorism inquiries while flying.
Surprisingly, not a single terrorist threat was neutralized by this initiative; instead, it appears to have been wielded as a tool against political adversaries, dissidents, and journalists in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Among those flagged was even former Democratic Congresswoman and current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who was targeted after departing the Democratic Party.
As reported by The Gateway Pundit, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced the termination of the Quiet Skies program and initiated a thorough investigation into its possible misuse under Biden’s administration.
In a recent conversation with Fox News Digital, Hamadeh elaborated on his experience of being flagged by the Biden administration.
Hamadeh indicated that he is among at least three Republican congresspersons targeted and highlighted the unsettling timing of the surveillance, which coincided with his contestation of the 2022 midterm election results in Arizona. “During that period, the atmosphere was charged with hostility, especially with President Biden in office. We were labeled ‘fascists’ and repeatedly branded as ‘threats to democracy,'” he remarked.
The Gateway Pundit has consistently covered Hamadeh’s bid for Attorney General, reporting that he lost by a mere 280 votes after significant voting machine failures occurred in Maricopa County, disenfranchising a considerable number of Republican voters. Allegations suggest that these breakdowns were orchestrated to hinder Republican turnout on election day.
Hamadeh further criticized the apparent preferential treatment shown to Democrats, noting that although they exhibited “a lot of interesting travel,” they seemed to evade the same level of scrutiny.
Notably, The Gateway Pundit previously reported on Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen, whose husband, William Shaheen, also ended up on the US Government’s Quiet Skies watchlist in 2023 after traveling with an unidentified Arab-American attorney flagged by the FBI. However, after being contacted by Senator Shaheen, the TSA swiftly removed her husband from the enhanced screening list, effectively granting him preferential treatment.
WATCH:
Hamadeh: “I only discovered this earlier this week. I was aware of Tulsi Gabbard’s situation on that Quiet Skies list for a few months, not thinking much of it. Then, while in Washington, D.C., my office received a call from Senator Rand Paul’s team, informing us that I was among three targeted Republicans. Intriguingly, one incident I was flagged for was in December 2022, coinciding with my challenge to the election results, a race determined by just 280 votes out of 2.5 million. It raises questions about whether that played a part, particularly in such a hostile political environment under President Biden, who constantly labeled MAGA supporters as ‘fascists’ and threats to democracy.
Additionally, I had served in the Army Reserve as an intelligence officer with a top-secret clearance. It makes you wonder if the agencies involved were in sync; something felt amiss. Kudos to Senator Rand Paul for uncovering this and for Secretary Kristi Noem’s decisive action to abolish the program.
It’s curious that only three Republican Congress members were targeted, while I would assume there are Democrats among us with equally ‘interesting travel’ records, suggesting a biased focus from the Biden administration. The complete reversal with Tulsi Gabbard now positioned in a critical intelligence role further emphasizes the deep-rooted issues we faced during Biden’s tenure, marked by a compromised deep state. The federal government’s persistent surveillance of me during my attorney general race, particularly after returning from deployment overseas, raises serious concerns about their intentions.
It’s essential to ensure this never occurs again. I appreciate Senator Rand Paul’s work, particularly during the recent hearing at the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, and it’s significant that the Department of Homeland Security acknowledges the Quiet Skies program’s failures, which did not yield any substantial threat prevention—an important takeaway as we assess the current administration’s tactics.
It’s disheartening yet unsurprising; there was a time when conservative viewpoints could even lead to bank account closures, under pressure from the Biden administration. Social media platforms also censored dissenting political voices. These actions indicate the extensive influence the federal government exercised—both within its own bureaucracy and over private entities. Thankfully, inquiries into these practices are gaining traction, with platforms like Meta, Instagram, and X reassessing their responses during that tumultuous period, especially in light of COVID and the controversial 2020 and 2022 elections.
