Trump's DOJ secretly obtained phone records of FBI Pick Kash Patel, Lawmakers, Staffers, and Journalists in a Leak Probe

This action was part of a large investigation into leaks of sensitive information, causing concerns about privacy and the influence of the executive branch on Congress.

The report, released by the Justice Department’s Inspector General, shows how the department tried to identify sources who might have leaked classified information. 

The records were taken from individuals with access to sensitive government information because of their jobs. The Justice Department targeted individuals such as Kash Patel, who was chosen by President-elect Trump to lead the FBI, and two Democratic members of Congress, Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell.

Although the names of the members of Congress and Kash Patel were not directly mentioned in the report, sources close to the matter confirmed that Patel, Schiff, and Swalwell were the targets. 

At the time, Patel worked as a staffer for the House Intelligence Committee, which was led by Republicans. Representative Adam Schiff, one of the targeted members, has since become a senator.

The report also noted that the Justice Department sought records from journalists at major news organizations such as CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. 

The investigators issued broad requests for records from people who were suspected of having access to the classified information that was leaked. This included emails, phone records, and other sensitive data.

The Inspector General’s report raised serious concerns about how the Justice Department handled these investigations. One major concern was that the department based its investigation on the timing of access to classified information and its later publication. 

This method of seeking records could pose risks to the relationship between Congress and the executive branch. The report warned that such actions could make members of Congress hesitant to do their jobs properly. It could also create the impression that the executive branch was trying to interfere with Congress’s constitutional duties, especially in terms of overseeing the actions of the president.

The Inspector General also highlighted the risks of chilling Congress’s ability to perform its oversight responsibilities. 

If Congress members knew their records could be secretly accessed, they might be less willing to conduct investigations or hold the executive branch accountable. The report suggested that this could weaken the checks and balances system that is essential in the U.S. government.

Despite these concerns, the report did not recommend any charges against the individuals involved in the investigations. The Inspector General found no evidence that the prosecutors assigned to the leak investigations were driven by political motives. 

However, the findings still raised alarms about the balance between national security and privacy rights, and the role of Congress in overseeing government activities.

The leak investigations were part of the Justice Department’s efforts to uncover the sources of classified information leaks. 

The department took aggressive steps to track down the individuals responsible for leaking sensitive details to the media. While national security is important, the report warned that these kinds of investigations could be harmful to the democratic process if they interfere with the work of elected officials.