A whistleblower report alleges that before the 2016 presidential election, the FBI engaged in covert surveillance activities within Donald Trump’s campaign, led by then-Director James B. Comey according to The Washington Examiner.
In June 2015, Donald Trump announced his run for the presidency. Shortly thereafter, a clandestine FBI operation was launched targeting his campaign, separate from the known Crossfire Hurricane probe into Russian electoral interference.
Ordered by James B. Comey, this investigation reportedly deployed undercover tactics unapproved at high levels.
According to whistleblower revelations now under scrutiny by the House Judiciary Committee, the FBI operation involved the use of undercover agents posing as potential romantic interests to infiltrate Trump's team.
Known in espionage as “honeypots,” these agents were tasked to travel with Trump and his staff to gather incriminating material without a specific crime in mind, indicative of a fishing expedition without proper authorization.
This fishing expedition came into being with no apparent legitimate foundation or official oversight acknowledged by case files.
Comey’s directives for the operation reportedly violated standard FBI operational procedure, not least by proceeding without specific allegations of criminal behavior.
The reports allege that high-ranking FBI officials including Deputy Director Dave Bowdich and Assistant Director Paul Abbate were also involved in this early unauthorized probe, raising questions about the agency’s internal governance. The magnitude of such an operation hinted at a possible misuse of power at the highest echelons of the FBI.
The clandestine nature of the tactics came closer to public exposure when a media incident almost unveiled an undercover agent's identity, prompting the FBI to falsely dissuade a newspaper from publishing a photograph by claiming it depicted a protected informant.
Further involvement by the FBI’s upper management in this secretive operation was evident; individuals part of the undercover assignment were promoted or transferred, with one of the undercover agents being reassigned to the CIA and another involved official elevated to a high-ranking executive role within the FBI.
The House Judiciary Committee has taken a particular interest in these revelations, spurred by their potential implications for federal agency conduct during major electoral processes. A spokesman expressed the committee's intentions to thoroughly investigate the legitimacy and foundation of these allegations.
Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker criticized the operation’s lack of prediction. "It’s an unpredicted infiltration of a presidential campaign which is sensitive... It would have to have been approved by the attorney general and should be predicated and on the books. In this case, I'm not hearing any predication," Swecker remarked, highlighting the operation's significant deviation from standard legal and procedural requirements.
As details continue to emerge, the whistleblower’s claims prompt deeper questions about the boundaries of lawful surveillance and the checks on power within the nation’s top law enforcement agencies.
No crimes linked to these early investigations have come to light, deepening concerns over the operation’s legitimacy.
This story not only explores the mechanics of covert operations within political campaigns but also provides a stark reflection on the balance of power, transparency, and responsibility within federal agencies.
The inquiry by the House Judiciary Committee remains ongoing, as legal and political observers alike await further clarifications on one of the most controversial episodes in recent U.S. political history.