LISTEN HERE:
A report published by America First Legal (AFL) sheds light on the unfair targeting of potential appointees picked by President Donald Trump during his time in office. According to the report, certain agents in the FBI’s Washington, D.C. field office undermined these candidates by delivering false and derogatory information to the Senate.
This manipulation violated both the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act, thus compromising the federal background investigation process known as the FBI’s ‘BI.’AFL contends that these politically biased agents selectively reported unverified accusations while neglecting the FBI’s protocols for fair investigations.
Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice took steps to protect Biden’s appointees by rescinding the regulations pertaining to the flawed BI process.
Unfortunately, this change only reopened old wounds, evoking memories of President Clinton’s controversial ‘Filegate’ scandal, where he accessed information about his political opponents. AFL argues that this decision disregarded the privacy protections necessary for individuals subjected to the FBI process.
The new report further highlights how the FBI’s involvement in probing Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s background during the Senate confirmation process was driven by partisan motives rather than genuine concerns.
Following an inconclusive investigation into Kavanaugh’s alleged misconduct during his teenage years, Senate Democrats themselves deemed the supplemental FBI inquiry as ‘fake’ and demanded more thorough oversight. Astonishingly, the biased BI process negatively impacted various nominees chosen by President Trump.
The report specifically mentions individuals such as Representative Darrell Issa, Representative Ronny Jackson, Judge Sul Ozerden, Jeffrey Byard, and William Bryan, all of whom faced confirmational obstacles due to FBI-related issues.
To prevent the politicization of privacy and safeguard against spying on political adversaries, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy implemented regulations during the Clinton era. However, these crucial protections have been recently revoked under President Biden’s administration.
The Privacy Act of 1974, which governs the collection and disclosure of individuals’ information by federal agencies, can now be bypassed by the White House and the FBI without external notification. The implications of this decision are deeply concerning and have raised questions about privacy and institutional integrity.
This action comes after Special Counsel John Durham released a report in May revealing that both the DOJ and FBI had fallen short in upholding their commitment to the law during their investigation into alleged ties between Trump and Russia.
President Trump has consistently referred to this inquiry as a ‘witch hunt’ through his social media platforms. In an interview with Fox News, he expressed his belief that the Democrats, particularly James Comey, initiated a lengthy and treacherous charade against him and the American public.
Trump emphasized the importance of holding those responsible accountable for putting the country through such turmoil.
The AFL report sheds light on the unjust treatment endured by President Trump’s potential appointees at the hands of biased agents within the FBI.
By selectively reporting false and derogatory information, these agents violated privacy and fairness protocols, compromising the integrity of the federal background investigation process.
During President Biden’s administration, efforts were made to protect appointees by rescinding regulations designed to safeguard against abuses in the BI process.
However, this change has drawn criticism for potentially resurrecting past scandals and undermining privacy protections for individuals subjected to the BI process.
The biased nature of the investigation into Justice Kavanaugh and the subsequent dismissal of the FBI’s supplemental inquiry as ‘fake’ have raised concerns about the objectivity of FBI investigations during Senate confirmation processes.
Various nominees chosen by President Trump, including Representative Darrell Issa, Representative Ronny Jackson, Judge Sul Ozerden, Jeffrey Byard, and William Bryan, faced confirmation roadblocks due to issues surrounding the FBI’s BI process.
The recent revocation of regulations that aimed to prevent the politicization of privacy and spying on political adversaries raises concerns about privacy and brings into question institutional integrity within the FBI and the White House.
Special Counsel John Durham’s report highlighted the failure of the DOJ and FBI to adhere strictly to the law during their investigation into Trump and Russia. These findings align with President Trump’s long-standing claims, labeling the investigation as a ‘witch hunt’ and demanding accountability for the anguish it caused.
AFL’s comprehensive report reveals the mistreatment of President Trump’s appointees due to biased agents in the FBI. Their selective reporting of false information compromised the integrity of the federal background investigation process.
The Biden administration’s decision to rescind regulations protecting appointees has sparked concerns, as it may revive past controversies and diminish privacy safeguards for individuals undergoing the BI process.
The FBI’s handling of the investigation into Justice Kavanaugh’s past, followed by Senate Democrats’ dismissal of its findings, raises questions about the impartiality of FBI investigations during confirmation hearings.
President Trump’s nominees, such as Representative Darrell Issa, Representative Ronny Jackson, Judge Sul Ozerden, Jeffrey Byard, and William Bryan, faced obstacles in their confirmation process that were linked to issues surrounding the FBI’s BI process.
In revoking regulations designed to prevent privacy abuse and political spying, the FBI and White House have opened the door to potential infringements on privacy and jeopardized the integrity of institutions.
Special Counsel John Durham’s report echoes President Trump’s long-standing claims, emphasizing the need to hold accountable those responsible for the controversial investigation into Trump and Russia.