Paul Miller, an anti-lockdown protester in New Jersey, sent National File video recorded by a Ring doorbell showing the FBI visit his home seeking to question him about social media posts relating to the lockdown.
In video recorded on May 21, reaching Miller’s parents via the Ring device, the FBI agents initially claim to be part of a local police department, before eventually revealing they are with the FBI.
Answering the Ring video call, Miller’s mother asks “What is this in reference to?”
The FBI agent, replies, “It’s the police department and we need to speak to Paul].”
When Miller’s mother asks, “Where is this? New Brunswick, North Brunswick,” the FBI agent replies, “It’s actually, actually we’re with the FBI ma’am.”
Once Miller’s mother realizes she is not speaking to an police office, but rather an FBI agent, her husband, Miller’s father, takes over the conversation.
Miller’s father explains to the FBI agent that Miller is out of town, and is expected to return by no later than noon the next day.
“We just need to speak to your son, uh, he’s not in any trouble or anything. we just need to clear something up,” said the FBI agent.
“You want to make a date for tomorrow and I’ll be there myself too,” asked Miller’s father. “I know that between today and tomorrow he’ll call in with me”
“I’ll tell him what’s up and he’s asked to get back so he can meet with you tomorrow, or I’ll bring him in your office. Whatever you think is convenient, sir.”
The FBI agent replies, “Alright, um, I’m just trying to think this through here. You don’t think he’ll be back today, later on today?”
After Miller’s father insists that he does not know when his son will return, but restates that he is expecting to hear from his son that day, the FBI agent asks for Miller’s cell phone number.
“Alright. You know what, maybe I could, you want to give me his cell number, do you have his cell phone, I could call him, I could just arrange this with him?”
In order to give the agent Miller’s cell phone number, Miller’s father has to end the ring call and call him back, and ends the Ring video call.
Speaking to National File, Miller explained that the FBI sought to question Miller regarding social media posts he made about the coronavirus lockdown protests in New Jersey, and his suggestions that residents of New Jersey should consider an open carry rally in the state.
He claims that after speaking to the FBI over the phone, they quickly realized Miller was not a threat and ended the phone call.
National File contacted the FBI agent who speaks in the video using the phone number he gave Miller’s father to ask about the agency’s stance on coronavirus lockdown protests and did not receive a response in time for publication.
