Calls to Abolish FBI Rise Amid Susie Wiles Monitoring Revelations
WHO:
Alternet - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) suggested that the news about Biden's FBI spying on Wiles justifies potentially eliminating the bureau, stating, "Not sure how the FBI survives this. Or whether it should. Maybe it’s time to start over."
Alternet - Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) expressed that the situation makes Watergate "look like child’s play" and indicated she would request a hearing on the matter as a member of the Judiciary Committee.
Alternet - President Joe Biden, Susie Wiles (Trump's chief of staff), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jared Wise (former Jan. 6th defendant), John Harwood (journalist), FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Merrick Garland, special counsel Jack Smith.
WHAT:
Alternet - Newly released documents detail that the FBI tracked Wiles' phone activity, cataloging her contacts with at least 21 attorneys, campaign personnel, Trump Organization contacts, Secret Service contacts, and journalists.
Fox News - The FBI monitored at least 39 contacts tied to Susie Wiles, including calls with attorneys and campaign officials.
Alternet - The FBI monitored Susie Wiles' communications, tracking phone metadata reflecting her contacts with attorneys, journalists, campaign officials, Trump Organization personnel, and Secret Service contacts.
Alternet - The FBI tracked Wiles’ phone activity from at least February through May 2023, cataloging who called her, whom she called, when the calls occurred, and how long they lasted.
Alternet - The investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents, named 'Plasmic Echo,' led to the FBI’s 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago and included possible obstruction of the investigation.
Fox News - The FBI tracked at least 39 contacts tied to Susie Wiles, monitoring her calls with attorneys and campaign officials.
WHERE:
Fox News - The investigation involved communications related to Trump’s political operation and campaign activities, including contacts with journalists linked to CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico.
WHEN:
Alternet - The FBI's investigation was launched in March 2022, with the tracking of Wiles' phone activity occurring from at least February through May 2023.
Fox News - The investigation was placed under special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed in November 2022.
WHY:
Alternet - Republicans officially criticized the Democrats for the scandal, with multiple GOP officials calling for accountability and suggesting the need to eliminate the FBI.
Alternet - Republicans criticized the FBI's actions, suggesting it might be time to eliminate the bureau due to the alleged spying on Wiles.
Fox News - White House spokesperson Lauren Bis described the surveillance as a "disgraceful abuse of government power" and accused the FBI of weaponizing law enforcement against political opponents.
HOW:
Fox News - The investigation was described as "sprawling," revealing how investigators mapped Wiles’ phone contacts across Trump’s legal, political, business, media, and security circles over several months.
Fox News - The FBI monitored Wiles' phone activity through tracking phone metadata and cataloging her communications over several months.
(UPDATED October 8, 2026 21:03 UTC)
Senator Mike Lee from Utah has suggested that the recent revelations about the FBI spying on Susie Wiles could warrant the elimination of the bureau, stating, "Not sure how the FBI survives this. Or whether it should. Maybe it’s time to start over." Meanwhile, Senator Ashley Moody from Florida remarked that the situation makes Watergate "look like child’s play" and plans to request a hearing on the matter as part of her role on the Judiciary Committee. Newly released documents indicate that the FBI monitored Wiles' phone activity, tracking her communications with at least 39 contacts, including attorneys and campaign officials, as part of what has been described as a sprawling investigation into her connections within Trump's legal and political circles.
--
(UPDATED October 8, 2026 20:01 UTC)
The FBI has been monitoring Susie Wiles' communications, tracking her phone metadata and documenting her contacts with attorneys, journalists, and campaign officials, as part of an investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents. This investigation, named 'Plasmic Echo,' began in March 2022 and included a search of Mar-a-Lago, with the FBI tracking Wiles' phone activity from at least February through May 2023. In response to the FBI's actions, Republicans have criticized the bureau, with a White House spokesperson calling the surveillance a "disgraceful abuse of government power."