Declassified FBI memos reveal federal agents tracked Susie Wiles, a senior aide to former President Donald Trump, and monitored calls involving Trump’s defense lawyers, journalists, and political advisers during the classified documents investigation. The documents also show agents compiled detailed records of Melania Trump’s and Barron Trump’s travel, including aircraft types and timelines, as part of the probe codenamed ‘Plasmic Echo.’
The surveillance occurred in 2022 as the FBI prepared for a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach estate, executed on August 8, 2022. Agents used pen register and trap-and-trace devices to log outgoing and incoming calls from Wiles’ phone, tracking conversations with Trump’s legal team and other associates. Internal memos indicate agents sought to finalize their understanding of the Trump family’s travel logistics, including the types of aircraft used, before the raid.
FBI Coordination and Raid Preparation
Memos show FBI agents in the Washington Field Office coordinated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Secret Service in Miami and West Palm Beach jurisdictions ahead of the Mar-a-Lago search. One document from May 31, 2022, outlined tasks for agents, including finalizing coordination among agencies and documenting the Trump family’s travel plans. Agents also attempted to obtain documents from Mar-a-Lago without a search warrant in July 2022, but concluded they lacked sufficient information to proceed.
Scope of Surveillance and Communications Tracking
The declassified records detail the monitoring of Wiles’ calls with at least five journalists, 21 defense attorneys, and several political advisers, according to documents released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force. Agents logged the duration of calls, whether they were missed or returned, and even tracked overlapping conversations when Wiles spoke with multiple parties simultaneously.
White House Response and Accountability Claims
A spokesperson for the White House, Lauren Bis, characterized the surveillance as an ‘abuse of government power’ and ‘weaponization of law enforcement.’ In a statement to multiple outlets, Bis said: “Jack Smith’s surveillance operation was a disgraceful abuse of government power. Spying on political opponents is weaponization of law enforcement, plain and simple. Those responsible must be held accountable.”
The classified documents case was ultimately dismissed by a judge after the raid, though the surveillance activities occurred during the Biden administration-era investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith. The probe, known as ‘Arctic Frost,’ separately examined Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, while ‘Plasmic Echo’ focused on the classified documents investigation.
Legal and Political Reactions
The revelations have prompted scrutiny from lawmakers, including Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who has criticized Smith’s investigative tactics in congressional hearings. The disclosures come amid broader debates over the use of surveillance tools in high-profile political investigations and the scope of federal law enforcement authority in cases involving former presidents.