DOJ investigating whether ex-FBI officials mishandled Russia docs, source says

DOJ to probe Russiagate allegations

DOJ launching probe into quality regarding Trump, Russia successful run-up to 2016 election 01:39

The Justice Department is investigating whether erstwhile elder FBI officials mishandled classified documents that were recovered successful a "burn bag" astatine the bureau's headquarters, a root acquainted with the substance confirmed to CBS News.

The documents successful question are related to the FBI's probe into whether Russia influenced the 2016 predetermination successful President Trump's favor. That probe has drawn Mr. Trump's ire for years — he's called the allegations that Russia sought to assistance him triumph a "hoax" and a "witch hunt," and successful caller weeks, some apical medication officials person claimed Obama-era quality leaders who looked into Russian meddling whitethorn person breached the law.

Nobody has been criminally charged successful the probe.

The New York Times was first to report connected the Justice Department's pain container investigation.

CBS News has reached retired to the Justice Department for comment.

The "burn bags" archetypal entered the nationalist sermon past month, erstwhile Fox News reported that FBI Director Kash Patel discovered thousands of Russia-related documents successful bags that are typically utilized to clasp delicate materials that are astir to beryllium destroyed. Days later, Patel wrote connected X: "We conscionable uncovered pain bags/room filled with hidden Russia Gate files."

The FBI's probe into Russian predetermination interference — dubbed "Crossfire Hurricane" — was opened during the 2016 run and continued into Mr. Trump's archetypal term. A probe tally by Justice Department peculiar counsel Robert Mueller later found that the Russian authorities interfered successful the 2016 predetermination with a extremity of benefitting the Trump campaign, though Mr. Trump and apical run officials were not accused of immoderate amerciable coordination with Russia.

A 2017 report by the U.S. quality assemblage besides assessed that Moscow sought to power the predetermination and "developed a wide preference" for Mr. Trump.

Those findings person agelong been challenged by apical Trump allies and by the president himself. Last month, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified documents that she claimed called into question the 2017 quality assemblage report. 

Gabbard accused Obama-era officials of "treasonous conspiracy" and a "years-long coup" to undermine Mr. Trump, and said she would notation the substance to the Justice Department for imaginable transgression investigation. Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesperson for erstwhile President Barack Obama, called the allegations "bizarre" and "ridiculous."

Patel is different vociferous professional of however the bureau helium present leads handled the Russia investigation. In 2023, helium penned a publication titled "Government Gangsters," which calls the FBI "thoroughly compromised" and rails against a sweeping "Deep State" that helium alleges victimized Mr. Trump with a "witch hunt" investigation.

Critics of the FBI's Russia probe person agelong accused the bureau of acting with governmental animus against Mr. Trump oregon mishandling elements of the probe. An interior Justice Department watchdog recovered successful 2019 that the FBI did not amusement "political bias" and that the FBI was justified successful opening the probe, but criticized some of the FBI's practices, including the warrants that were utilized to surveil ex-Trump adjutant Carter Page. Years later, Trump-era peculiar counsel John Durham called the investigation "seriously flawed."