Former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson has made explosive allegations that he could face federal charges as a foreign spy, claiming the Central Intelligence Agency has been snooping through his private text messages. The 56-year-old conservative commentator believes the Department of Justice is preparing to charge him with 'acting as an agent of a foreign power,' suggesting some CIA personnel may be targeting him due to his critical stance on Israel.
Carlson's Public Allegations on Social Media
'When you discover the CIA has been reading your texts in order to frame you for a crime,' Carlson wrote on the social media platform X, accompanying a five-minute video detailing his claims. In the video, he stated, 'The CIA is preparing some kind of criminal referral against me, a crime report to the Department of Justice, on the basis of a supposed crime I committed.'
Carlson pointed to potential charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, legislation that mandates individuals paid by foreign governments for political advocacy must register with the Justice Department. However, he asserted that the case is 'ludicrous' and expressed doubt it would progress, saying, 'I'm not an agent of a foreign power. Unlike a lot of people commenting on US politics and global affairs, I have only one loyalty and that's the United States.'
Background and Justification for Claims
The conservative firebrand explained that his job involves communicating with people globally, stating, 'It's literally what I do for a living, and I'm not gonna stop that.' He cited his pre-war conversations with individuals in Iran as a possible basis for the alleged charges, remarking, 'They read my texts.' Carlson added that he has 'never taken money' from a foreign nation, emphasizing, 'Don't need it, don't want it.'
Carlson suggested his criticism of Israel might have made him a target, noting, '[There are] some people who are mad at me for my views about Israel and they have some latitude.' He argued that during wartime, countries tend to become 'more authoritarian,' with 'much less tolerance for any kind of dissent in the homeland.'
Historical Context and Comparisons
Drawing parallels to past incidents, Carlson referenced his time at Fox News when he attempted to arrange an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He claimed that in 2021, the National Security Agency 'grabbed his text messages' with another American citizen and 'leaked' them to news outlets in an effort to sabotage the interview.
Carlson asserted that such actions are often intended to 'leak the investigation to the media' and to 'humiliate and terrorize the subject of the operation.' He clarified, 'I'm not making this video to complain about it, or whine, or ask for money... I'm saying it because it's true, and you should know what your own government is doing.'
Political Fallout and Trump's Response
These allegations emerge amid a public feud with former President Donald Trump. Carlson had previously criticized Trump's joint US-Israel strikes on Iran as 'absolutely disgusting and evil' in an interview with ABC News on February 28. In response, Trump stated on March 5, 'Tucker's lost his way,' adding, 'I knew that a long time ago, and he's not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things.'
Trump further remarked that Carlson 'is really not smart enough to understand that,' effectively distancing him from the MAGA movement. Despite the tension, Carlson maintains he is 'not worried' about the potential charges, expressing confidence they will not materialize into a formal case.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment on these allegations, but no official statement has been released at this time. The situation highlights ongoing debates about government surveillance, free speech, and political dissent in the United States.
