Members of the controversial Kansas church known for picketing military funerals have participated in training sessions with FBI recruits, officials say.
The Westboro Baptist Church was involved in four sessions this spring, National Public Radio reported Wednesday. The FBI then ended the relationship, which began in 2008.
The church in Topeka is led by Fred Phelps and most of the members are in his extended family. Phelps is anti-homosexual and argues that God is punishing the military for U.S. tolerance of gays.
Timothy Phelps, Fred Phelps' youngest son, said he participated in sessions this spring. He said the goal was to give the agents the ability "to stay measured when they are speaking with a witness or a suspect with whom they have a strong, visceral disagreement."
A raid by federal immigration authorities on Saturday in New York City was thwarted by about...
