Special Poll
During President Trump’s first term, the Justice Department reportedly reviewed the communications of a broader group of individuals than initially disclosed, as part of its efforts to identify leaks. Records from over 40 congressional staff members, two Democratic lawmakers, and several journalists were accessed.
This information came to light after the department’s Office of Inspector General reviewed the Trump administration’s attempts to trace leaks regarding investigations tied to the 2016 election. This investigation gained attention in 2021 when the Biden administration moved to remove nondisclosure orders previously sought by Trump officials.
In 2017, it was revealed that the Justice Department had accessed the records of then-Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both Democrats from California, as well as journalists from CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. A report released Tuesday, spanning 96 pages, found no violations of Justice Department policies at the time but raised concerns about the potential to undermine Congress’s oversight role and the perception of inappropriate executive interference in legislative oversight activities.
While not mandatory, the Justice Department did not disclose to the courts that it was seeking records from lawmakers and their staff. The report also determined that agents were not politically motivated, as they targeted records of 21 Democratic staffers, 20 Republican staffers, and two nonpartisan staffers, based on their proximity to sensitive information shared through their roles, rather than partisan bias.
CNN also reported that Kash Patel, a Trump appointee to the FBI, was among those whose records were obtained. Patel has previously criticized the department’s actions, alleging they “illegally spied” on him during the Russia investigation. Patel later filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department for secretly accessing his personal email account.