FBI Whistleblower Documents Show Anti-Trump Bias Behind 2020 Election Case

Newly released whistleblower disclosures show that the federal investigation into President Donald Trump’s alleged election interference was launched by an FBI official with a history of anti-Trump bias. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) made the documents public, revealing how Timothy Thibault, a former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, played a direct role in setting up the case that eventually became Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution.

The investigation, called “Arctic Frost,” was officially launched on April 13, 2022. Internal emails reviewed by Grassley show that Thibault drafted the opening language of the case and coordinated with DOJ officials to push it forward. Whistleblower accounts indicate that Thibault acted without proper authorization, exceeding his role to target Trump.

One of the released emails shows Thibault instructing a subordinate, “Here is draft opening language we discussed,” attaching a document that later became part of Smith’s case. In another message, Thibault informed DOJ prosecutor John Crabb that the FBI case team believed they had justification to include Trump as a criminal subject.

The records also show that Richard Pilger, a DOJ official overseeing election-related cases, reviewed and approved the Arctic Frost investigation, allowing it to escalate into a full-scale criminal probe. Grassley has previously raised concerns about Pilger’s involvement in politically sensitive investigations, particularly those targeting Trump and other conservatives.

During Patel’s confirmation hearing for FBI Director, Grassley pointed to the documents as evidence of political influence in federal law enforcement. He stated that partisan actors within the DOJ and FBI coordinated efforts to build a case against Trump without following standard investigative procedures.

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Grassley and Johnson have formally requested that Jack Smith maintain all records related to the Arctic Frost investigation, seeking transparency on how Trump was added to the case and who authorized the escalation of charges.