FBI Director Kash Patel has launched an internal probe into claims that former FBI Director James Comey ran an off-the-books surveillance operation against Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. A whistleblower’s testimony, provided to the House Judiciary Committee, alleges that Comey personally oversaw an effort to place undercover FBI agents within Trump’s team.
The whistleblower claims that Comey approved the use of two female FBI operatives — known as “honeypots” — to infiltrate Trump’s campaign and develop relationships with key staffers. This alleged covert mission reportedly began in 2015 and was kept outside standard FBI documentation.
BREAKING: The FBI has launched an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey for his "honeypot" operation targeting Trump in 2016, according to the Washington Times.
The announcement comes just days after Kash Patel was sworn in as the new FBI director.
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According to the testimony, then-Deputy Director Dave Bowdich and senior FBI official Paul Abbate helped oversee the operation. The mission was reportedly abandoned when media outlets uncovered details about one of the agents and prepared to expose her identity.
Patel, who was recently confirmed as FBI director, has vowed to restore public trust in the bureau. While he previously stated he would not engage in politically motivated investigations, the emergence of these claims has prompted an internal review to determine whether Comey’s actions violated FBI regulations or federal law.
The investigation is separate from the Crossfire Hurricane probe, which was launched in 2016 to examine alleged Russian interference in the Trump campaign. The FBI has not commented on the specifics of Patel’s review, and Comey has not publicly responded to the accusations.
Patel’s decision to investigate the matter signals a shift in leadership at the bureau, with a renewed focus on accountability and transparency regarding past actions within the agency.
