Biden Justice Department prosecutors reportedly wanted to target Catholic nuns, text messages show

The texts show that the pair joked about locating and prosecuting nuns that attended the "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021.

Published: May 1, 2026 2:40pm

The Biden administration Justice Department discussed an interest in targeting Catholic nuns, according to text messages obtained by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

Two prosecutors, Joseph Cooney and Molly Gaston, in February 2021 searched media coverage of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.  They found a photo in The New York Times showing nuns who attend the "Stop the Steal" rally. They were dressed in traditional habits as well as Trump scarves, according to The Daily Wire.

"I would like to take a special assignment of finding and prosecuting them," Gaston wrote to Cooney, referencing the nuns. 

Cooney replied, "I'm with you. Although I would like to prosecute any nun who still wears the head habit." 

The communications were obtained as part of Grassley's investigation into Arctic Frost, an FBI investigation that targeted Republicans and conservatives. 

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