New whistleblower disclosures have identified a top agent in the New York field office as one of the FBI investigators assigned to infiltrate Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2015 as part of FBI Director James B. Comey’s “off-the-books” operation.
The disclosures show the female agent was involved in the attempt to have undercover agents target the Trump team.
The Washington Times reached out to the FBI and the agent for comment. The FBI has asked for the agent’s identity to be shielded because disclosing her name could compromise “the safety of the agent.”
FBI leadership appointed by Mr. Trump is starting an investigation into the origins of the agency’s plan a decade ago to gain access to his campaign by using two female undercover “honeypot” agents.
An agency whistleblower revealed the off-the-books investigation in a protected disclosure to the House Judiciary Committee last year. The Times first reported on the investigation exclusively in October.
One or more FBI employees who were in a position to know the information sent the Senate Judiciary Committee protected disclosures Tuesday. The Times reviewed the documents.
SEE ALSO: FBI looking into Comey’s off-the-books ‘honeypot’ operation targeting 2016 Trump campaign
According to the disclosures, the female agent was the handler of one or more FBI undercover agents who targeted Mr. Trump and his team. She also participated as one of the undercover agents.
The disclosures described the agent and another female FBI employee as bureau-certified undercover employees or those who complete undercover training.
Although one disclosure described the agent’s activities as a “scheme,” not a case or an investigation, she wasn’t running it. Mr. Comey was calling the shots, the disclosure said.
One of the people making the protected disclosure said special counsel John Durham interviewed the whistleblower about the operation but apparently ignored the information and never included it in his report.
This person said the whistleblower was subject to repeated retaliation by FBI officials after the interview with Mr. Durham and left FBI headquarters.
Those who knew about the “honeypot” operation said FBI personnel didn’t come forward about it out of fear of retaliation by bureau executives loyal to Mr. Comey, Deputy Director Paul Abbate and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
New FBI Director Kash Patel pledged to overhaul the bureau and remove the politicization that Republican lawmakers say has infected it over the past several years.
Mr. Trump recently appointed former Secret Service veteran Dan Bongino as deputy director of the bureau to help Mr. Patel with this task.
“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next deputy director of the FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel,” Mr. Trump said.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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