FBI Subpoenas & Firings: Kash Patel, Susie Wiles Phone Records Targeted

FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly fired at least 10 employees following the revelation that the agency subpoenaed his and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ phone records, according to reports from CBS News and CNN.

The subpoenas, issued in 2022 and 2023, occurred while both Patel and Wiles were private citizens, as the FBI, under the leadership of the Biden administration, investigated former President Trump’s handling of classified documents and potential interference in the 2020 presidential election. Reuters first reported the existence of the subpoenas on Wednesday.

Patel, in a statement to Reuters, characterized the actions as “outrageous and deeply alarming,” asserting they represented government overreach. He claimed the subpoenas were issued under “flimsy pretexts” and concealed within case files to avoid oversight.

The New York Times reported that the dismissed employees were connected to the federal investigation led by former special counsel Jack Smith. The investigation centered on allegations that Trump improperly retained classified documents after leaving office and his efforts related to the 2020 election.

An FBI official, speaking to the New York Post, described the subpoenaing of Patel and Wiles’ records as part of a “massive targeting operation.” The official indicated the use of both technical surveillance and human intelligence gathering.

The records were reportedly found in files labeled “Prohibited,” according to Reuters. The Guardian reported that the FBI has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The dismissals follow disclosures of FBI files, including those referred to as “Arctic Frost” disclosures, which were discovered in apparent burn bags last year, according to the New York Post.