- Andy Ogles has repeatedly criticized federal law enforcement, including calling for slashing the FBI’s budget, labeling the agency as "corrupt," and condemning the Department of Justice for "weaponizing" the FBI in connection with the Mar-a-Lago search (Tennessee Tribune, Tennessee Lookout).
- Ogles has promoted tough-on-crime policies, including a proposed bill in 2024 to allow the death penalty for unlawful migrants who assault, rape, or kill U.S. citizens, specifically targeting those who attack women and children (Tennessean, Columbia Daily Herald).
- Following mass shootings, including the Covenant School tragedy in his district, Ogles supported arming teachers and school staff and criticized media coverage, co-sponsoring resolutions that urge responsible reporting to prevent glorification of perpetrators (Nashville Post, Tennessean).
- Ogles has been an outspoken critic of Congressional actions on opioid legislation, calling for more aggressive federal enforcement and blaming Congress for being influenced by special interests (Nashville Post).
- Vulnerability: Ogles' advocacy for arming teachers and his frequent criticism of federal law enforcement may attract controversy and opposition from those who question the effectiveness or safety of such policies or view his rhetoric as undermining trust in key institutions.
September 2020: Andy Ogles Framed 9/11 Memorial Event As A Celebration Of First Responders Amid COVID-19 According to Daily Herald, "During his daily web-based broadcast Monday, Ogles said the event was also a celebration for the first responders who ‘have given so much’ during the ongoing crisis caused by COVID-19." [Daily Herald, 9/16/20]
2022: Andy Ogles Pledged to Slash FBI Budget According to a press release from the Tennessee Tribune, Ogles told right-wing podcaster John Fredericks, 'It's time for this next Congress, uh, you think about the 87,000 agents added to the IRS. We've got to slash their budget and we have to slash the FBI and we have to teach them a lesson.' [Press Release - Tennessee Tribune, 10/27/22]
2022: Andy Ogles Criticized the FBI Following Mar-a-Lago Search According to a press release from the Tennessee Tribune, following the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago, Andy Ogles blasted the federal law enforcement agency, tweeting '^FBI-Corruption.' [Press Release - Tennessee Tribune, 10/27/22]
2017: Andy Ogles Called For Trump To Order Aggressive Opioid Action According to Nashville Post, "Her challenger in the Republican primary for Senate, Andy Ogles, issued a statement that didn't mention Blackburn by name but calls for President Donald Trump to issue an executive order directing the 'DEA and other federal agencies to use all available means to intensify the investigation and prosecution of those engaged in the reckless, illegal and dangerous overprescription and distribution of opioids.'" [Nashville Post (Tennessee), 10/19/17]
2017: Andy Ogles Criticized Congress On Opioid Legislation And Special Interests According to Nashville Post, "'Congress has tied the hands of our law enforcement officials as they seek to crack down on the illegal distribution of opioids, but with the law enforcement powers they retain they should aggressively pursue those who are fueling the opioid epidemic,' Ogles said. 'The other addiction that this legislative opioid debacle reveals is the fact that Congress is hooked on special interest money and has an insatiable need for a 'fix' in the form of PAC money.'" [Nashville Post (Tennessee), 10/19/17]
August 2023: Ogles Co-Proposed Resolution Urging Media To Alter Mass Shooting Coverage According to Jackson Sun, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, proposed the resolution that names 'irresponsible and sensationalistic' reporting practices as a major factor in the recent rise in mass gun violence across the country, saying that 'the media' 'give(s) criminals the notoriety and infamy they desire.'" [Jackson Sun, 8/17/23]
August 2023: Ogles Called For Media To Stop Sensationalizing Mass Shootings According to Jackson Sun, "'There is an epidemic of evil people motivated by perverse beliefs to wreak havoc on the lives of innocent people,' Ogles, who has taken criticism for posing for a Christmas card with his family holding guns, said in a statement about the resolution. 'Just a few short months ago, the Covenant School in Nashville was robbed of six precious lives in a horrific act of violence. The media was quick to report on the incident, combing for every gritty detail that could be uncovered about the shooter and (their) motivation. This resolution simply asks the media to do their work responsibly and stop sensationalizing the despicable acts of mass murderers.'" [Jackson Sun, 8/17/23]
August 2023: Andy Ogles Proposed Congressional Resolution On Media Reporting Of Mass Shootings According to The Commercial Appeal, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, proposed the resolution that names 'irresponsible and sensationalistic' reporting practices as a major factor in the recent rise in mass gun violence across the country, saying that 'the media' 'give(s) criminals the notoriety and infamy they desire.'" [Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), 8/19/23]
August 2023: Andy Ogles Criticized Media For Sensationalizing Mass Shootings According to The Commercial Appeal, "Ogles, who has taken criticism for posing for a Christmas card with his family holding guns, said in a statement about the resolution. 'Just a few short months ago, the Covenant School in Nashville was robbed of six precious lives in a horrific act of violence. The media was quick to report on the incident, combing for every gritty detail that could be uncovered about the shooter and (their) motivation. This resolution simply asks the media to do their work responsibly and stop sensationalizing the despicable acts of mass murderers.'" [Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), 8/19/23]
2023: Andy Ogles Represented The District Of Covenant School Shooting According to Tennessean, "Ogles represents the district where a shooter killed six people, including three children, at the Nashville Covenant School in March." [Tennessean, 8/20/23]
August 2023: Ogles Supported Arming Teachers And School Staff As Security Measure According to Nashville Post, "Olges said that in addition to focusing on mental health, he sees arming teachers and school staff as a reasonable step—something Covenant School parents have spoken out against during the special session." [Nashville Post, 8/23/23]
August 2023: Ogles Asserted Armed Teachers Would Stop Assailants According to Nashville Post, 'If you have armed teachers, [armed assailants will] get put down like the dog they are, and that's what should happen,' Ogles said. [Nashville Post, 8/23/23]
August 2022: Ogles Condemned DOJ For 'Weaponizing' The FBI In Mar-a-Lago Raid According to Tennessee Lookout, "In August, Ogles attacked the Department of Justice for 'weaponizing' the FBI in the raid on Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida home, for a raid that turned up classified documents, some of which are reportedly considered at the highest level of secrecy." [Tennessee Lookout, 10/4/22]
2022: Ogles Criticized Biden DOJ And Called For Outrage Over FBI Actions According to Tennessee Lookout, "'The Biden Department of Justice increasingly looks like a banana republic you would find in a third-world cesspool where political payback and partisan persecution have replaced a fair and just system operating under the rule of law,' Ogles said in a statement published by the conservative Tennessee Star." [Tennessee Lookout, 10/4/22]
Ogles Announced Bill Proposing Death Penalty for Unlawful Migrants Committing Severe Crimes in 2024 According to Tennessean, "Ogles also touted his new bill to allow the death penalty for unlawful migrants who assault, rape or kill U.S. citizens – which earned him a big round of applause from the room." [Tennessean, 7/14/24]
August 2023: Andy Ogles Proposed Congressional Resolution Targeting Media Coverage Of Mass Shootings According to Tennessean, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, proposed the resolution that names 'irresponsible and sensationalistic' reporting practices as major factors in the recent rise in mass gun violence across the country, saying that 'the media' 'give(s) criminals the notoriety and infamy they desire.'" [Tennessean, 8/20/23]
August 2023: Andy Ogles Criticized Media For Sensationalizing Mass Shootings According to Tennessean, "'There is an epidemic of evil people motivated by perverse beliefs to wreak havoc on the lives of innocent people,' Ogles, who has taken criticism for posing for a Christmas card with his family holding guns, said in a statement about the resolution. 'Just a few short months ago, the Covenant School in Nashville was robbed of six precious lives in a horrific act of violence. The media was quick to report on the incident, combing for every gritty detail that could be uncovered about the shooter and (their) motivation. This resolution simply asks the media to do their work responsibly and stop sensationalizing the despicable acts of mass murderers.'" [Tennessean, 8/20/23]
Andy Ogles Announced "Protecting Women and Children Act" Legislation On Podcast In July 2024 According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Ogles announced the legislation, which he plans to call the 'Protecting Women and Children Act' on his Rumble podcast 'Restoring the Republic' on Thursday morning." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 7/14/24]
Ogles Announced 'Protecting Women And Children Act' Legislation In July 2024 According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles announced the legislation, which he plans to call the 'Protecting Women and Children Act' on his Rumble podcast 'Restoring the Republic' on Thursday morning." [Columbia Daily Herald, 7/14/24]
Ogles Stated Bill Targets Unlawful Migrants Who Attack Women And Children In 2024 According to Columbia Daily Herald, "'What it would do is it would make it clear that if you are illegal and you are attacking our women and children, that you would be eligible for the death penalty,' Ogles said." [Columbia Daily Herald, 7/14/24]
July 2024: Andy Ogles Announced 'Protecting Women And Children Act' On Rumble Podcast According to Tennessean, "Ogles announced the legislation, which he plans to call the 'Protecting Women and Children Act' on his Rumble podcast 'Restoring the Republic' on Thursday morning." [Tennessean, 7/14/24]