Rep. Moore Presses FBI Director Patel Over 2016 Russia Collusion Claims
Questions probe Obama-era weaponization of government against Trump
In a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-AL1) sharply questioned FBI Director Kash Patel about allegations that the FBI was weaponized under President Barack Obama to spy on Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Moore also accused Democrats of continuing to spread what he called a baseless collusion narrative between Trump and Russia.
Moore began his remarks by citing documents newly declassified that, he said, show the Intelligence Community under Obama relied on unverified or fraudulent evidence in order to assert that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.
“Newly declassified documents confirm that the Intelligence Community under President Barack Obama knowingly relied on unverified and fraudulent evidence to manufacture the false claim that Russia, in fact, meddled in the 2016 election...” Moore said.
He challenged Director Patel to explain how such claims came to be accepted, and to detail what the FBI is doing now to correct the record.
Recent reporting supports parts of Moore’s line of questioning. In just one example, Fox News Digital reported that Director Patel uncovered “thousands of documents” related to the Trump-Russia probe in so-called “burn bags” inside a secret room at FBI headquarters. These items include a classified annex to the John Durham final report, among other intelligence materials.
Director Patel has already begun turning over some of the documents to Congress. Committees are now reviewing them, and some are being declassified. The release of the Durham annex, in particular, is being watched closely.
Moore’s questioning highlights concerns about government overreach, the integrity of intelligence work, political bias in law enforcement, and how to distinguish legitimate investigation from partisan narratives.
Rep. Moore’s questioning of Director Patel may be seen below:
