An explosive report has surfaced as an FBI whistleblower claims former FBI Director James Comey authorized a covert, off-the-books investigation targeting the 2016 Trump campaign. According to this whistleblower, Comey not only initiated the operation but also actively directed it, allegedly ordering undercover FBI agents to infiltrate the Trump campaign and pose as “honeypots” to collect intelligence. This report has prompted the House Judiciary Committee to investigate further.
According to the whistleblower’s disclosure, two female undercover agents were deployed within the Trump campaign with instructions to act as “honeypots”—a spy tactic where operatives use personal relationships to obtain information. The whistleblower alleges that these agents were embedded at high levels within the Trump campaign, even accompanying campaign staff on trips, making it appear they were aligned with Trump’s team.
The whistleblower also noted that the undercover agents were specifically tasked with targeting George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign. Papadopoulos became one of the focal points of the later Crossfire Hurricane investigation due to allegations that he had connections to Russian operatives. However, the alleged off-the-books operation overseen by Comey reportedly predated Crossfire Hurricane, which was the formal FBI probe into possible Trump-Russia ties.
Unlike official investigations, this covert operation was reportedly kept off any formal FBI record-keeping systems. The whistleblower claims this was a deliberate effort to conceal the operation, even hiding it from Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz during his investigation into FBI actions related to the Trump campaign.
According to the whistleblower, Comey’s operation unraveled when a photograph surfaced of one of the undercover agents who had been embedded in the campaign. When a media outlet reportedly obtained the photograph and prepared to publish it, FBI officials allegedly intervened, providing misleading information to the media to prevent the agent’s identity from being exposed. The FBI, according to the whistleblower, falsely claimed the individual in the photograph was a confidential informant whose life would be at risk if exposed, rather than admitting that the person was an undercover agent involved in this secret campaign operation.
To minimize fallout, the FBI is said to have taken measures to ensure that the agents involved would be unavailable for questioning. According to the whistleblower, one agent was transferred to the CIA, effectively placing her outside of FBI jurisdiction, while the other was promoted to an FBI executive position, shielding her from further scrutiny. This maneuvering, the whistleblower suggests, helped to bury the operation and avoid accountability.
The whistleblower also implicated other senior FBI officials in the operation, including then-Deputy Director David Bowdich and Paul Abbate of the Washington field office, both of whom were allegedly aware of the clandestine effort. When the operation was abandoned, these officials, according to the whistleblower, were reportedly instructed to remain silent about it.
The disclosure claims that the whistleblower personally observed FBI employees being directed to “never discuss the operation with anyone ever again,” even with others who had been involved. This level of secrecy, the whistleblower alleges, was designed to protect those involved and keep the existence of the operation hidden from public and internal scrutiny.
The claims have raised questions over the ethical boundaries of intelligence operations, as well as over the potentially unchecked powers of senior FBI leadership. Many observers find the allegations almost too extreme to believe, likening the covert tactics to those seen in spy thrillers rather than in democratic institutions. But as the whistleblower suggests, the very outrageousness of the claims may have been a reason to expect them to go unnoticed or be dismissed.
If true, the allegations may indicate a deeper issue with oversight and control within the FBI and other intelligence agencies. The use of “honeypots” and clandestine agents to infiltrate a political campaign represents a potentially severe misuse of agency power that could call into question the integrity of other FBI investigations, especially those involving politically sensitive subjects.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) has pledged to investigate the allegations, citing the seriousness of the claims and the need for transparency within federal law enforcement. Jordan and other committee members are expected to call upon the whistleblower to testify and may subpoena additional FBI officials to investigate the claims.
Meanwhile, the whistleblower’s report has added fuel to the ongoing debate over potential political biases within federal agencies. Critics argue that, if the allegations are true, they represent a stark example of federal law enforcement encroaching into political territory under the guise of national security.
The potential for abuse of power within intelligence agencies is a matter of public concern, particularly when high-ranking officials are alleged to have circumvented traditional oversight mechanisms. As public trust in these institutions is essential, the allegations brought forward by this whistleblower could have far-reaching consequences. Should the investigation verify the claims, it would not only cast doubt on Comey’s leadership but also on the internal culture and accountability mechanisms within the FBI.
Whether or not these allegations will lead to further scrutiny of the FBI’s role in the 2016 election remains to be seen. However, the House Judiciary Committee’s investigation will likely shine a light on the inner workings of the FBI, revealing either a misinterpretation of whistleblower claims or a potential scandal with major implications for U.S. politics and the credibility of federal agencies.
This is absolutely wild. GOP messaging has to water down Democrats insanity because otherwise they just flat-out won’t believe it. https://t.co/2V0xU1pXuf
— John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) October 29, 2024