So the incoming government may decide to restart them. Kash Patel, the man Trump claims he wants to lead the FBI, has made a clear commitment to target journalists.
According to a complaint he filed, Patel was one of the congressional workers whose data were confiscated during the leak inquiry.
The Trump administration could simply revoke the Justice Department’s new regulation that requires authorities to alert a news organization if they plan to demand reporter phone data, unless there is an emergency.
According to the IG report, the Department’s decision to request the non-content communications records of members of Congress and congressional staffers in media leak investigations.
“risks chilling Congress’ ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch” and “implied the constitutional rights and authorities of a co-equal branch of government.”
Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, called the report’s findings “beyond disturbing.”
