Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, was reportedly surveilled by the agency he is now set to reform. A DOJ Inspector General report revealed that the FBI sought records from congressional staffers, members of Congress, and journalists, with Patel identified as one of the targets by The New York Post and CNN.

Patel served as a Republican investigator on the House Intelligence Committee, where he scrutinized the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane probe into Trump’s campaign. His findings revealed reliance on the now-debunked Steele Dossier to justify surveillance of Trump adviser Carter Page. Patel’s investigative role made him a key figure in exposing FBI missteps.

Rep. Kat Cammack responds to the DOJ report that the FBI spied on Kash Patel:

“You F around, you’re gonna find out. Those political swamp creatures at the FBI are about to find out because Kash Patel is about to be the big man in charge and he is going to clean house..” pic.twitter.com/NK1qnLTktR

— Trumpusa1 (@Trumpusa1A1) December 15, 2024

The report detailed surveillance efforts between 2017 and 2018, including records from 21 Democratic staffers, 20 Republican staffers, and multiple reporters. While the DOJ claimed no evidence of political bias, the OIG report noted the actions created “the appearance of inappropriate interference” by the executive branch.

Patel, a vocal critic of federal law enforcement, has long advocated for sweeping changes at the FBI. His spokeswoman said the report reinforced why Patel is the “ideal leader” to reform the agency and restore its credibility.

FBI spied on Kash Patel because he was uncovering their 'malfeasance' in the Russia collusion hoax, Miranda Devine https://t.co/Kmx3vo2CXI

Still are spying on him and all of them.

— Granny Clampet (@JanisSillivan) December 18, 2024

This revelation follows Patel’s 2023 lawsuit against former FBI Director Christopher Wray and other DOJ officials over a subpoena for his personal email records. Patel’s nomination comes at a critical time for the FBI, as scrutiny over its practices continues to grow.

The surveillance of Patel and other congressional investigators has intensified calls for greater accountability and transparency within federal agencies. Supporters argue his experiences make him uniquely qualified to lead the FBI through necessary reforms.