DOJ's Secret Record Seizure Raises Oversight Concerns

The Trump administration's Justice Department secretly obtained phone records of two members of Congress, Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, and 43 staffers, including Kash Patel, in a leak investigation during Trump's first term. The Inspector General's report highlights how the Department's actions risked chilling Congressional oversight by targeting those with access to classified information. The DOJ's approach involved secret subpoenas to media outlets like CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, raising concerns about constitutional violations. The inspector general criticized the lack of court oversight and potential executive interference in legislative activities. Kash Patel, now nominated by Trump to lead the FBI, was unaware of the surveillance until notified by third-party providers like Google years later. Despite these findings, the inspector general did not recommend charges, but the report has prompted calls for legal reforms to safeguard congressional oversight rights.