Number three House Republican accuses the FBI of 'covering up' Iranian election interference to benefit Harris

WASHINGTON, DC- Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the number three Republican in the House, is accusing the FBI of “covering up” Iranian election interference as a means to “tip the scales” in favor of Kamala Harris, Fox News reports. 

Stefanik told Fox News Digital that she submitted some “very basic, easy” questions to the FBI about the agency’s knowledge of an Iran-based hack of the Trump campaign. The FBI subsequently gave that data to the Biden campaign and mainstream media outlets. 

Stefanik is accusing the FBI of “tipping the scales” in favor of the then-Biden-Harris campaign by giving them prior notice of the hack. 

“I believe there was politicization from the Biden-Kamala Harris administration that they were notified prior to the Trump campaign to tip the scales,” Stefanik alleged. “The FBI has functioned like an arm of the Democrat Party.” 

Stefanik’s allegations seem to mirror a recent story from Law Enforcement Today about politically motivated leaders within the FBI retaliating against conservative agents and employees, particularly those who voiced support for former President Donald Trump or who “vocalized objections to the COVID-19 vaccination."

In August, the Trump campaign said it had been hacked by Iran. That was confirmed in September by the Department of Justice, which confirmed that Iran had indeed hacked the campaign, and three Iranian nationals were indicted for their role in the scheme. 

Fox News Digital reported that on Sept. 19, the FBI conducted a closed briefing with Stefanik and other members of the House Intelligence Committee with the topic being foreign election interference. Stefanik noted FBI officials appeared “panicked” when she asked them questions, however, promised to follow up with her with answers. 

Stefanik then wrote a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, who, true to form, didn’t provide answers by an Oct. 7 deadline. 

Stefanik asked Wray when the FBI learned of the Iranian hack of Trump’s campaign, when the FBI notified both campaigns of the hack, whether the FBI knew who leaked the information to the media and the Biden or Harris campaigns, and whether the agency used Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to conduct wiretaps of the hack. 

The hack was carried out by creating fake email accounts that impersonated current and former US officials and then duped Trump campaign staff using a process called “spear phishing,” which embeds malware when users click on emails. 

Stefanik said the FBI could release such information without impeding ongoing investigations or revealing sources or classified information. 

“I’m one of the longest-serving members on the House Intelligence Committee. When the FBI won’t answer questions, it’s because you’ve hit on something and they’re hiding something. They are corrupt to the core.” 

According to the FBI, the agency “vigorously” called out Iranian election interference and claims it briefed multiple Congressional committees with jurisdiction on the threats. 

In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, the FBI said it does not engage in partisan politics. 

“The FBI under Director [Christopher] Wray has vigorously and repeatedly called out the threat posed by Iran. The FBI does not play in partisan politics and has proactively informed victims of the threats posed by this regime while also publicly bringing attention to their actions,” the statement said. 

“The FBI has also briefed dozens of members of Congress across multiple committees in both open and classified briefings and hearings. It is no secret how the FBI has been in countering actions by Iran as evidenced by the recent indictment of Iranian cyber actors linked to a hack-and-leak operation designed to influence the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.” 

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Stefanik raised the issue of possible election interference by the FBI. 

“It is my duty to share with the American people what the FBI has failed to answer–and, I believe, is willfully covering up–about Iranian influence in the 2024 presidential election.” 

US intelligence assets have advised that countries such as Iran, Russia, and China have all attempted to meddle in next week’s election. 

The Trump campaign said in September it had been warned by intelligence officials of “real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him.” They have also reportedly put hits out on former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. 

According to a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released Tuesday, it found that “efforts by Iran to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other former U.S. officials” are expected “to persist after voting ends, regardless of outcome.” 

The report said that Iran prefers a Kamala Harris presidency (for obvious reasons) and will focus efforts on stopping Trump. Meanwhile, the same report says Russia prefers Trump and will continue to target the Harris campaign. 

A report last week from Microsoft (which has its own concerns where China is concerned) found that Iranian government-based hackers have been examining election websites in swing states looking for vulnerabilities. 

Iran has not forgiven Trump and his national security team for ordering a strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, which appears to be the basis for the assassination threats.