On Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel took to social media to challenge the media’s portrayal of him as a liar in the face of recent revelations regarding classified documents. These documents, related to the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, were discovered in a concealed room of the FBI that had been secured with a key, according to Patel, a former ‘Russiagate guy.’
‘In 2017/18, I proved the Steele Dossier was fictitious intelligence, weaponized by corrupt FBI officials to deceive a federal judge and unlawfully spy on then presidential candidate Trump’s campaign—all paid for by his opponent,’ Patel stated. ‘The media called me a liar.’
Patel elaborated that the recent discovery involved ‘burn bags,’ a method used for the destruction of classified materials. These bags were found in the secret room, filled with thousands of documents, including the classified annex to John Durham’s final report. This annex holds the key intelligence that Durham reviewed as part of his investigation into the Trump-Russia probe.
Patel’s disclosures have been accompanied by a collaborative effort among several intelligence and law enforcement officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and acting NSA Director William Hartman. These officials are working closely to declassify the documents, with the intent to provide the information to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley for public release.
Patel’s remarks were further contextualized in a recent interview with Joe Rogan, in which he recounted finding a room at the FBI’s Hoover Building that was hidden by former director James Comey and other officials. The room contained a wealth of documents and hard drives that had not been accessed or disclosed to the public before.
Patel’s work in the FBI has involved managing and processing documents related to the bureau’s original Trump-Russia probe, known as Crossfire Hurricane. As investigations continue, Patel and his team are reviewing and turning over these documents to Congress, responding to requests from relevant committees of jurisdiction.
Grassley, who has been actively requesting information related to the Durham probe, has now received these documents for review as part of his ongoing investigative work. The declassified annex, which was part of the recent findings, is a critical element in understanding the underlying intelligence and events surrounding the Trump-Russia probe.