A newly released set of Senate documents reveals that FBI agent Walter Giardina cited a Wikipedia article as part of his effort to initiate another investigation into Donald Trump, according to materials made public by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. The documents were released in conjunction with FBI Director Kash Patel’s recent testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of the FBI’s approach to politically sensitive investigations and raising questions about the standards used to launch probes involving high-profile figures.
Wikipedia Cited in Push for Trump Probe
The documents detail Giardina’s repeated attempts to join the Crossfire Hurricane team, the FBI’s investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, and his efforts to open a campaign finance investigation into Trump prior to his first inauguration. According to a January 12, 2017, email from then-FBI agent Tim Thibault, Giardina relied on “open source reporting” about alleged fundraising irregularities by the Trump campaign. Subsequent emails show Giardina referencing Federal Election Commission filings, financial disclosures, and, notably, recommending a colleague review the “Wikipedia page on Chain Bridge bank” as part of the investigative process.
"FBI Agent Giardina sought to support an investigation against President Trump based on information from a Wikipedia page."
— Margot Cleveland, investigative journalist
Despite Giardina’s efforts, records indicate that the proposed campaign finance case did not advance. The documents also reveal that Giardina attempted to join the Crossfire Hurricane team seven times in four weeks, a fact that contradicts claims by former FBI officials that agents cannot select their assignments. Supervisory Special Agent Joe Pientka discussed Giardina’s interest with Jeff Rhue, who had recently started a new Illicit Influence Activities Team at FBI headquarters, and encouraged Giardina to connect with him about possible opportunities.
Broader Push for Investigations
Additional emails show that Giardina was not alone in seeking new investigations. Agent Kevin Gounaud, who collaborated with Giardina, suggested opening a criminal case against Elon Musk. Gounaud’s suggestion was based on a federal employee’s email requesting weekly accomplishment reports, which he alleged could indicate a conspiracy to obtain sensitive government information. In his email to a colleague, Gounaud concluded, “And no, I’m not kidding.”
Sen. Grassley’s office also released communications referencing the Alfa Bank investigation, a matter that drew significant attention during and after the 2016 election. In a March 2017 exchange, FBI agent Keith Mularski relayed findings from PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) indicating there was a “perfectly logical reason” for the so-called Trump Server incident with Alfa Bank and that it was not nefarious. Giardina acknowledged the report, but it remains unclear whether the information was shared with relevant investigators or included in subsequent special counsel reviews.
Missing Report Prompts Further Inquiry
The absence of the PwC report from both FBI agent Allison Sands’ testimony and Special Counsel John Durham’s final report on the Alfa Bank allegations has prompted calls for further inquiry. Grassley has urged Director Patel to investigate what happened to the PwC findings and to examine the role of FBI employee Jodi Peterson, whom Grassley alleges was responsible for obstructing document production in multiple cases.
FBI Leadership and Ongoing Oversight
Director Patel, now in his second year as FBI director, has faced criticism from Democrats for personnel changes but has been credited by Grassley for increases in criminal and violent crime arrests, as well as efforts to improve whistleblower protections. According to his prepared statement, Patel has emphasized the agency’s progress in these areas.
Democratic members of the committee have criticized Patel for what they describe as weakening the agency, but Patel has defended his record, citing improved arrest statistics and child protection outcomes. Patel has not publicly addressed the specific allegations regarding Giardina’s use of Wikipedia or the handling of the PwC report.
The Senate Judiciary Committee continues to review the FBI’s internal practices, with Grassley calling for greater transparency and accountability in politically charged investigations. The ongoing review reflects broader concerns about the standards and processes used by federal law enforcement when investigating public figures, particularly in the context of recent and ongoing political controversies.
