The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is reportedly conducting a sweeping search through documents and materials in an effort to find information that could discredit individuals who previously investigated former President Donald Trump and his allies, according to a New York Times report.
Patel's FBI Targets Past Investigators
Under the leadership of FBI Director Kash Patel, agents are utilising congressional Republican disclosure requests, internal searches, and whistleblowers to gather material on prosecutors and investigators. This includes those who worked on cases linked to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and the probe into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Last year, Patel fired several officials who had been involved in investigating the former president or the January 6 cases. Some of those dismissed accused Patel of acting on Trump's behalf to secure his own position. Beyond personnel changes, the FBI has also disseminated documents through congressional channels that cast previous investigations, particularly those led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, in a negative light.
Congressional Disclosures and 'Arctic Frost'
Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been releasing batches of these disclosures. Many are connected to "Arctic Frost" – the investigation into Trump's actions surrounding the 2020 election, which is being led by Jack Smith.
The Times reports that material critical of Smith is often released ahead of congressional hearings, seemingly to influence the public narrative. Republicans have hinted that more disclosures could emerge before Smith's scheduled testimony before a House committee this week.
For instance, prior to a Judiciary Oversight committee hearing, Grassley released information suggesting the FBI under the Biden administration examined Republicans' phone metadata. In October, he released 197 subpoenas issued by Smith's team to Republicans or conservative groups, which were allegedly provided by a whistleblower.
Internal Concerns and Official Responses
This activity has raised significant concerns. Two former prosecutors on Smith's team worried that the disclosed material might include protected grand jury information and filed a complaint with the Department of Justice's internal Inspector General.
A spokesperson for Senator Grassley told the NYT that the senator acted with legal authority after consulting the Senate's legal counsel, and that all information was obtained through formal requests. The Justice Department's Office of Legislative Affairs, led by a former Grassley aide, coordinates responses to these congressional oversight requests.
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson rejected any suggestion that disclosures were cherry-picked. He stated that Director Patel has overseen "the most transparent F.B.I. in history," highlighting that the bureau turned over 40,000 documents to Congress in one year – a nearly 400 percent increase compared to his predecessors' tenures combined.
