Revelations have surfaced concerning the FBI’s actions during the Biden administration, following reports that the agency tracked the travel of the Trump family and collected phone records of top aide Susie Wiles. A former high-ranking Democratic official has likened these tactics to abuses from the Nixon era that were uncovered during the Watergate scandal. Known as the “Plasmic Echo” investigation, it was later handled by special counsel Jack Smith. The probe focused on allegations of Trump’s mishandling of classified and national defense materials and potential obstruction.
Records indicate that the FBI monitored the travels of Melania and Barron Trump while preparing for a 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago. Additionally, they logged details of Wiles’ communications with attorneys and journalists. Julian Epstein, ex-chief counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s Democratic members, criticized these actions, questioning their justification and comparing them to Nixon-era misconduct. Epstein expressed concerns about the legality and motives behind monitoring communications involving lawyers and journalists.
In a rare display of bipartisan agreement, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal acknowledged Republican concerns about potential breaches of norms relating to email access. The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Republicans, recently disclosed that Smith’s investigation into the 2020 election reviewed exchanges between Trump White House officials and members of Congress from both parties.
Theo Wold, who previously served in the Trump administration, echoed the sentiment that these developments validate Republican claims of a “Deep State”. He criticized the targeting of various groups and individuals, suggesting it constituted abuse of power. The White House also condemned the FBI’s actions, describing them as an overt misuse of law enforcement.
Documents from March 2023 showed that investigators recorded metadata for 39 calls involving Wiles, including communications with campaign contacts and a lawyer. Former RNC official Elizabeth Pipko pointed out that Wiles, the first female White House chief of staff, should serve as a role model rather than a surveillance target. Communications involving journalists, including those from Fox News, were also compromised, as noted by Senator Charles Grassley.
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