WEST PALM BEACH — The White House transparency team released documents on October 6, 2026, detailing FBI surveillance activities related to the Mar-a-Lago investigation. The records reveal that the FBI monitored the call records of Susie Wiles between February and May 2023.

The surveillance logs show the agency tracked Wiles' calls with nearly two dozen attorneys connected to Donald Trump.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bies criticized the actions revealed in the documents. "Jack Smith's surveillance operation was a disgraceful abuse of government power," Bies said. She added that "spying on political opponents is the politicization of law enforcement."

Bies stated that "spying on political opponents is weaponization of law enforcement, plain and simple." "Those responsible must be held accountable," she said. The documents indicate the FBI Washington Field Office engaged in these surveillance activities as part of the broader probe into classified documents retained by Trump, which carried the code name "Plasmic Echo".

The surveillance records detail specific instances of monitored communication. On May 19, 2023, at 2:05 p.m., a phone number identified as the "FPOTUS Vanity Number" called Wiles. This call lasted 16 minutes and 11 seconds. Another call from the same number occurred on March 9, 2023, at 8:10 p.m., lasting 4 minutes and 1 second.

On March 9, 2023, Wiles made or received 39 calls within a single day, revealing the intensity of her communication during the period of FBI surveillance. At 6:00 p.m. that day, Campaign 9 called Wiles for 39 seconds. At 6:10 p.m., Lawyer 10 called for 49 seconds.

At 6:22 p.m., Wiles attempted to call Campaign 4 and also called Campaign 8 for 56 seconds. Campaign 4 called Wiles at 6:27 p.m., and Lawyer 12 called at 6:39 p.m. for 6 minutes and 50 seconds.

FBI agents questioned Wiles in Florida in April 2023. Investigators examined her phone activity before and after this interview. On April 10, 2023, the FBI Washington Field Office reviewed Wiles' telephonic activity to determine contacts of interest on the date of her FBI interview. The identities in the surveillance documents were redacted, with the exception of Kash Patel, who held no government position at the time his name appeared in the records.

The surveillance followed the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022. During the search, FBI agents searched Donald Trump's office and the bedrooms of Donald and Melania Trump. FBI documents stated that search warrants for the estate would be executed only after Trump had left. In late May 2022, FBI agents listed tasks to determine the travel plans of Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Barron Trump, including the type of aircraft used and their precise schedules.

Then-FBI Director Christopher Wray recommended that then-Attorney General Merrick Garland approve the investigative steps for the Mar-a-Lago search. A handwritten note from Wray to Garland stated: "Merrick, I recommend you approve. CW." In a May 2022 memorandum, Wray warned that the investigation was sensitive and could involve senior officials from Trump's first administration.

Wray wrote that public disclosure of the investigation prior to an election "could be disruptive to the democratic process." One month before the August 2022 search, an unidentified FBI special agent raised doubts about the legal authority to search the office and bedroom of a former president. The agent suggested holding additional discussions with Trump's attorneys regarding the search warrant.

Why It Matters

The release of these documents provides detailed insight into the scope of the FBI's investigative reach during the Mar-a-Lago probe. The surveillance of Wiles, who was running Trump's political operation at the time, included tracking calls with over 20 attorneys linked to the Trump legal team. This indicates the breadth of the investigation into his legal and campaign networks. The monitoring of communications with journalists suggests an interest in media interactions related to the Trump campaign.

The documents confirm the formal approval process for the Mar-a-Lago search, with Garland approving the steps after receiving a recommendation from Wray. The timeline reveals internal discussions and concerns within the FBI prior to the search, including doubts about legal authority. The subsequent dismissal of the case by a federal judge adds context to the current release, which frames the surveillance as an abuse of power by the current White House.

Timeline

In late May 2022, FBI agents listed tasks to determine the travel plans of Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Barron Trump, including the type of aircraft used and their precise schedules. In a May 2022 memorandum, Wray warned that the investigation was sensitive and could involve senior officials from Donald Trump's first administration. Wray wrote in a May 2022 memorandum that public disclosure of the investigation prior to an election "could be disruptive to the democratic process." Then-FBI Director Wray recommended that then-Attorney General Garland approve the investigative steps for the Mar-a-Lago search. A handwritten note from Wray to Garland stated: "Merrick, I recommend you approve. CW."

The agent suggested holding additional discussions with Donald Trump's attorneys regarding the search warrant. The FBI searched Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022.

What's New

Additional details show that on April 10, 2023, the FBI Washington Field Office reviewed Susie Wiles' telephonic activity to determine contacts of interest on the date of her FBI interview. Susie Wiles served as the campaign manager for Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign and later became the White House Chief of Staff under President Joe Biden, indicating her long-standing role in Trump's political operations. On March 9, 2023, Susie Wiles made or received 39 calls within a single day, revealing the intensity of her communication during the period of FBI surveillance. Primary source: whitehouse.gov

The FBI Washington Field Office has a history of monitoring high-profile political figures, including former President Donald Trump, as part of national security and counterintelligence operations. Donald Trump was the subject of multiple FBI investigations during his presidency, including the Russia probe and the investigation into the handling of classified documents, which reflects the bureau's long-standing scrutiny of his activities. Primary source: fbi.gov