Biden-era FBI tracked Trump family travel and Wiles’ calls with lawyers in secret probe: docs
Declassified records reveal the Biden-era FBI tracked Melania and Barron Trump's travel while planning the Mar-a-Lago classified documents search.
TL;DR
- Newly declassified records reveal the FBI, under the Biden administration, tracked the travel of Melania and Barron Trump during the classified documents investigation.
- The probe, codenamed 'Plasmic Echo,' also involved monitoring the phone calls of future White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, including her communications with defense lawyers, campaign advisers, and journalists.
- White House spokesperson Lauren Bis criticized the surveillance as a "disgraceful abuse of government power" and "weaponization of law enforcement."
- The FBI's operational planning emails show agents finalized their understanding of the former First Lady and son's travel before executing the Mar-a-Lago search warrant.
- The investigation was personally approved by FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland in March 2022.
- Despite internal disagreements within the FBI regarding probable cause for the search warrant, surveillance of Wiles continued between February and May 2023, including during her witness interviews.