FBI's Independence Hurdles DOJ's Trump Election Interference Cases

The authors, who have extensive experience covering the Trump administration, claim that the FBI's decision to prioritize its independence over pursuing the cases against Trump hindered the investigation. This assertion is based on their research and interviews with officials involved in the investigation. According to Leonnig and Davis, the FBI's reluctance to pursue the cases was partly driven by concerns about the potential politicization of the agency. The authors argue that the FBI's desire to maintain its independence led to a lack of coordination between the agency and the Department of Justice, ultimately stymieing the investigation. "We were told that the FBI was hesitant to pursue the cases because they didn't want to be seen as being too close to the Department of Justice," Leonnig said in an interview. "They wanted to maintain their independence, and that led to a lack of coordination between the two agencies." Davis added that the FBI's concerns about politicization were not unfounded, given the intense scrutiny the agency faced during the Trump administration. "The FBI was under a lot of pressure, and they were worried about being seen as being too partisan," he said. The investigation into Trump's alleged election interference was launched in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Department of Justice had been investigating Trump's role in the events leading up to the attack, including his alleged attempts to pressure state officials to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The investigation was led by the FBI's Washington Field Office, which worked closely with the Department of Justice to gather evidence and build a case against Trump. However, according to Leonnig and Davis, the FBI's concerns about politicization led to a lack of coordination between the two agencies, ultimately hindering the investigation. The authors' claims have sparked debate among legal experts and former officials, with some arguing that the FBI's concerns about politicization were justified, while others argue that the agency's reluctance to pursue the cases was a missed opportunity to hold Trump accountable. The current status of the investigation is unclear, and it is unclear whether the Department of Justice will pursue the cases against Trump in the future. However, the controversy surrounding the investigation has raised questions about the role of the FBI in investigating high-profile cases and the potential for politicization of the agency. In a statement, a Department of Justice spokesperson said that the agency does not comment on ongoing investigations. The FBI also declined to comment on the matter. The controversy surrounding the investigation has also raised questions about the role of the select congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The committee's hearings, which featured dramatic testimony from former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, were widely watched and sparked renewed interest in the investigation. The committee's investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear what conclusions they will reach. However, the controversy surrounding the Department of Justice's investigation has raised questions about the potential for politicization of the agency and the impact on the investigation.