New reports reveal that the FBI, during Biden’s administration, monitored the travel of the Trump family and accessed the phone records of Susie Wiles, a key aide. This development has drawn sharp criticism from Julian Epstein, a former Democratic official, who likened these actions to the abuses of power during the Nixon era.
The investigation, tagged as “Plasmic Echo” and taken over by Special Counsel Jack Smith, focused on allegations of Donald Trump’s improper handling of classified materials and potential obstruction. Surveillance included tracking First Lady Melania Trump’s and Barron Trump’s travel and collecting metadata from Susie Wiles’ communications with lawyers, journalists, and others.
It’s difficult to find legitimate reasons for such actions. They remind me of Nixon’s methods,Epstein said, urging for explanations about the surveillance of family members and advisors.
Epstein’s concerns highlight the historical context of Nixon’s “Enemies List,” curated to use federal power against political adversaries. He questioned the legal basis for the monitoring, especially of communications involving attorneys and media personnel.
The reaction wasn’t limited to Epstein. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, who had earlier raised concerns about the Smith investigation, also expressed the need for transparency and scrutiny.
This incident coincides with a Senate Judiciary Committee disclosure that Smith’s team had reviewed messages between Trump White House officials and several members of Congress.
Theo Wold, a former Trump administration official, claimed these revelations confirm Republican warnings about misuse of governmental powers, referring to a “Deep State” acting against political opponents.
The White House criticized the FBI’s tactics. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis labeled the surveillance as an inappropriate use of law enforcement meant to undermine political opponents.
Documents showed investigators logged data for 39 calls made by Wiles in March 2023. This included calls connected to Trump’s campaign and a lawyer linked to Melania Trump.
Elizabeth Pipko, a former Republican National Committee official, emphasized that Wiles’ achievements should inspire, rather than subject her to surveillance from political rivals.
Senator Charles Grassley also brought attention to unauthorized data access involving communications with journalists, adding to the ongoing scrutiny of Jack Smith’s investigation team.