Minor point of order: Knock and talk is not a new tactic. That said, these panty sniffers should always be shown the way out of town.
The most appropriate response is no response at all. Open your door to strangers at your own peril.
Best thing it to tell the FBI I have nothing to say, contact my lawyer and get the heck off my property like now.
I guess a “knock and talk” is better than their standard Modus Operandi:
Flash Bang SWAT raid at 6:00am
Do not talk to the police. And especially do not talk to the FBI. Lying to the FBI is a federal crime. People have done serious jail time for that.
But suppose you are always honest, and would never, ever lie. No matter. Anything you can say can be twisted twenty different ways.
Be nice. Be polite. But do not talk to them.
Don’t Talk to the Police
19,246,682 views Mar 20, 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
Regent Law Professor James Duane gives viewers startling reasons why they should always exercise their 5th Amendment rights when questioned by government officials.
There are good reasons this has over 19 million views. If you haven’t watched this, you should.
Besides “You don’t have a warrant? Then I’m not interested in talking to you without an attorney present”, you should get names/cards, pictures / video of their presence, and report them to your local Sheriff’s Department or PD via 911. “I have two gentlemen presenting themselves as FBI agents, I just want a record of this.”
This guy’s tweets were totally innocuous and the FBI’s response was nothing short of harassment. The FBI must have too much extra time on their hands if they are responding to stuff like this.
They were just salesmen, offering Mr Bonfilio the chance to win an all inclusive vacation at the Gray Bar Resort.
I remember G. Gordon Liddy saying (on his radio show) “if they come to my house, they better have their heads completely encased in Kevlar.”
He was talking about the Secret Service, but still.
Seems like sometimes an intimidation tactic by the anonymous “tipster”...a gentler form of swatting.
Being a rural FL resident, I’d just call the Sheriff’s office.
“There are two suspicious men knocking on my door, claiming to be FBI agents. I can’t tell if they are legitimate or not.”
FL Sheriffs have no love for the feds.
Just say “I’m sorry, you guys are no longer the good guys and nobody trusts you “
Later.
Note that there will generally be two FBI agents. Why two, because it’s their word (two) against your word (one) and you will lose. If they still want to talk to you and your lawyer, then make sure that you have your tape recorder handy to tape the interview or don’t say anything.
I am honestly surprised I have not received a visit yet. Any number of the posts I’ve made on my various fora over the last few decades are close in tone to Patrick Henry and as bellicose and obstreperous as can be...
When it comes to statements on our entirely illegal and increasingly illegitimate government? I also mean it. Every word.
Wrong initials. It should be “KGB.”
I watched that video and I really have no use or faith in the swollen ranks of our federal and most State governments . With all of our resources being squandered and mis-used with needless “make work” jobs in Fed. or State anyone worth their salt has genuine contempt for individuals being paid to practice Stalinist/Communist style queries.
They want him to talk so they can find some inconsistency and charge him with lying to the FBI or something worse.
The purpose is to intimidate and if possible arrest the regime's political opponents on false pretenses.
Who responds to random strangers?