Newly released FBI documents obtained by Bloomberg reporter Jason Leopold reveal how the 2022 raid on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate angered a number of rank-and-file FBI agents.
A handful of the documents — which were obtained through a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request — came from the FBI’s Office of the Ombudsman, a division within the bureau where agents can confidentially raise concerns.
“Did this really just happen? Am I dreaming? The FBI served a Search Warrant on a former president?” one agent wrote in an email to he FBI’s acting ombudsman Chauncenette Morey shortly after the raid.
“I’ve lost just about all faith in our leadership. Obviously they forgot Crossfire Hurricane,” the agent continued, referencing the FBI’s unfounded surveillance of then-candidate Trump as part of the bogus “Russian collusion” investigation. “If he took documents, give him a call and ask for them back. Like … Seriously? My own agency … a bunch of Democrat political hacks up top.”
The incensed agent went on to state that he is losing faith in FBI leadership, adding references to the bureau’s targeting of parents and school board meetings and participation in one-sided January 6 prosecutions.
“While you’re at it, please ask them why we break out all the tools to enforce a federal misdemeanor of someone walking through the Capitol on January 6th (track down through cell phone analysis and arrest), but people can violate 18 U.S.C 1507 every day and harass Supreme Court justices in broad day light on the news and NOTHING is done about it,” the agent continued.
“I believe they won’t be able to answer it because the answer is that they are a bunch of political hacks of the Democratic Party.”
The email was later forwarded to Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate. “Just wanted you to be aware of the concerns/comments our office has received regarding the search of former President Trump,” Morey wrote.
Another FBI employee accused the bureau of assisting in turning the nation into a “Banana Republic,” adding that the raid was an “embarrassment.”
“What is the predication of the investigation involving the search? It better be more than putting a few documents in the archives or classified material of which the man could have declassed,” the agent wrote. He then called on FBI leadership to restore faith in the agency, if possible.
Elsewhere in the cache of documents, it was revealed that the FBI set up an interview between Director Wray and the Wall Street Journal in order to generate good press. The bureau felt that the article worked as intended.
“This story worked out well,” said Wray’s Chief of Staff, Jonathan Lenzner in an August 20, 2022 email to top FBI officials. “Shows the director working hard to do the right thing, focusing on the work and the people. Also shows him trying to keep the FBI away from politics, though the story notes that is harder to accomplish.”
Lenzner continued, “The fact is the FBI is very much in the news, people are already talking about the Bureau and the Director, and some of it is not good.”
The full trove of documents can be viewed here.
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