Overview
- Reuters reported that during Jack Smith–era probes, the FBI subpoenaed phone metadata for Kash Patel and Susie Wiles in 2022–2023 rather than the content of calls.
- Kash Patel said prior leadership hid the subpoenas in “prohibited” files to evade oversight, and he has since ended the bureau’s use of that designation.
- Two FBI officials claimed agents recorded a 2023 call between Wiles and her attorney, but the attorney who represented her that year publicly denied consenting to any recording.
- Corey Lewandowski and Dan Scavino said they later received notices showing Google had been under court-ordered gag restrictions before providing their records, suggesting a broader sweep.
- The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as a due-process violation, as congressional scrutiny intensifies and key details about scope and justification remain contested.