'They weren't domestic terrorists': Ted Cruz gets fact-checked on live TV after misquoting Merrick Garland — again

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was corrected on live television after claiming for the second time that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland described parents as "domestic terrorists."

On Wednesday, November 3, the Texas senator appeared on Fox News where he discussed newly-elected Glenn Youngkin's (R) gubernatorial victory in Virginia. Cruz insisted that education was one reason why so many parents voted in favor of Youngkin. According to Cruz, they desire to have "influence and control over what their kids are taught."

"The arrogance of the Democrats saying 'parents have no control over that,' and even worse, the attorney general ― Joe Biden's attorney general ― calling those parents domestic terrorists. I think that directly led to the result last night."

Fox News anchor John Roberts quickly highlighted the problem with Cruz's remarks on Garland's statement. Roberts noted the National School Boards Association (NSBA) made the remark; not Garland. "Although in fairness, he said that they weren't domestic terrorists. It was the National School Boards Association that said that," Roberts clarified.

After the interview aired, Cruz tweeted a clip featuring his remarks as he conveniently left out Roberts' remarks correcting his false claim.

Cruz's remarks follow weeks of ongoing pseudo-outrage Republicans have expressed over the U.S. Department of Justice's October 4 memo. In that correspondence, Garland addressed the threats and violence against school administrations over mask policies and other COVID-related mitigation policies.

"In recent months, there has been a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation's public schools," Garland wrote. "While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views."

Garland also called for assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to help combat the escalating issue. "To this end, I am directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with each United States Attorney, to convene meetings with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders in each federal judicial district within 30 days of the issuance of this memorandum."

Garland's memo does not even include the terms "domestic" or "terrorist."

The memo Cruz is referring to was sent by the NSBA several days after Garland's memo was released. The organization asked President Joe Biden for federal support to address the issue, and their memo did include the term "domestic terrorism."