The Department of Justice Inspector General has uncovered surveillance of Trump’s FBI director nominee Kash Patel by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), raising serious concerns about potential overreach. Patel, who was involved in key investigations into FBI misconduct, was reportedly targeted through the DOJ’s “compulsory process” to obtain records, according to a newly released report.

The report, while not naming individuals, detailed DOJ efforts to acquire records from members of Congress, congressional staffers, and journalists. Sources cited by The New York Post and CNN confirmed Patel was among those surveilled, along with Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell. At the time, Patel was a Republican staffer on the House Intelligence Committee, leading inquiries into FBI and DOJ actions during the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

Patel’s work exposed FBI reliance on the discredited Steele Dossier, which was used to secure a surveillance warrant against Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Patel has since become a vocal critic of FBI practices, recently stating he would reform the agency to eliminate “deep state” influences if confirmed as its next leader.

In 2023, Patel sued several key DOJ and FBI officials, including former FBI Director Christopher Wray, alleging improper actions to subpoena his personal email data in 2017. The surveillance reportedly took place between September 2017 and March 2018, a period during which multiple media outlets published classified information related to DOJ and FBI activities.

The OIG report acknowledged that no direct evidence of political motivation was found in the actions of career prosecutors. However, it also highlighted the troubling “appearance of inappropriate interference” by the executive branch, raising questions about oversight and accountability.

The report further revealed the DOJ’s use of compulsory processes to target 21 Democratic staffers, 20 Republican staffers, and multiple members of Congress. This broad surveillance swept up individuals performing oversight duties, leading to accusations of executive overreach.

Critics argue that targeting a sitting congressional investigator like Patel undermines trust in the justice system. Patel’s spokeswoman emphasized that the findings only strengthen his qualifications to lead reform at the FBI, saying the report highlights the agency’s need for sweeping change.