Department of Homeland Security counterterrorism coordinator John Cohen said Nov. 3 that the DHS has not found evidence of rising violence against educators—refuting the ostensible reason that Attorney General Merrick Garland launched an ongoing investigation into the matter. Cohen’s remarks came during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on domestic terrorism in response to questions from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who asked about Garland’s decision last month to open an investigation into violence against educators. The probe comes at a time when parents groups have increased pressure on school boards over the teaching of critical race theory and the imposition of mask mandates, among other issues. Garland cited a “disturbing spike” in harassment and threats of violence as his reason for opening the probe, but Cohen said at the hearing that his department has found no evidence of widespread violence. “We did reach out to state and local law …