Fritz Berggren, an employee of the U.S. State Department accused of drafting antisemitic blog posts, is drawing the attention of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.<\/p>\n
\u2018I have serious concerns about Berggren\u2019s ability to serve as a diplomatic representative \u2013 and at one point a key decision-maker in his role as a visa adjudicator \u2013 based on his hateful comments,\u2019 Grassley told Fox News Digital in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Berggren\u2019s blog, called \u2018Blood and Faith\u2019 is not new. The blog \u2013 which Berggren used in tandem with his podcast to advance his views that Jews are \u2018the enemy\u2019 \u2013 gained attention from federal officials in 2021. However, he remains employed.<\/p>\n
According to the website, his first blog was posted in September 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Grassley first inquired about Berggren\u2019s in July, and the State Department confirmed his employment but did not offer any further comments on his status. He currently works as a foreign service officer.<\/p>\n
In a follow-up letter on Oct. 30, Grassley sought information from Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Berggren\u2019s employment status and role at the State Department, along with his responsibilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He also inquired whether Berggren \u2013 who called Jews \u2018the devil\u2019s children\u2019 in an Oct. 22 post \u2013 was required to recuse himself from decision-making due to reported public comments, and whether he served as a visa application adjudicator, and if records exist of his approvals and denials.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Americans deserve to know why their government thinks an outright antisemite is fit to represent them diplomatically while taxpayers cut his paycheck,\u2019 Grassley said. \u2018The Biden administration loves to claim \u2018hate has no place\u2019 in our country \u2013 I suggest they put their money where their mouth is and respond to my oversight.\u2019<\/p>\n
Fox News\u2019 Digital reached out to Berggren for comment, but did not hear back by press deadline. However, on Tuesday, he posted to his blog in response to Grassley\u2019s letter: \u2018Tough to stay employed when a U.S. Senator publicly demands one\u2019s termination.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Christians and Whites: stop being afraid of powerful people,\u2019 the blog post read. \u2018We lose because we are afraid to even engage in rhetorical debate. Our greatest enemy is self-censorship.\u2019<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that due to privacy restrictions, the department is unable to comment on any individual employee.<\/p>\n
\u2018I will say, of course, as a general rule, we oppose antisemitism in any form,\u2019 Miller said. \u2018Secretary has spoken to this quite publicly. Our special envoy to oppose antisemitism has spoken about this in a number of occasions.\u2019<\/p>\n
After Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel Oct. 7 slaughtering thousands of people, Berggren wrote a blog entitled \u2018That Middle-East Thing\u2026\u2019 on Oct. 12.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Our war is in our homelands. We are invaded, egged on by traitors and Jews who hate the White race. Whites who side with the Jews are traitors to their ancestors,\u2019 the blog post read.\u00a0<\/p>\n