The Justice Department is investigating whether senior FBI officials mishandled classified materials related to the bureau’s 2016 Russia probe, known as Crossfire Hurricane. According to CBS News, documents tied to the investigation were discovered inside “burn bags” at FBI headquarters—containers typically used for destroying sensitive files. The Crossfire Hurricane investigation originally sought to examine possible ties between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russian operatives. However, Trump and his allies have long criticized the probe as a politically driven “hoax.”

FBI Director Kash Patel, a frequent critic of the agency, claimed that thousands of Russia-related documents were found hidden in the burn bags. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating the FBI had “a burn room filled with hidden Russia Gate files.” While Special Counsel Robert Mueller ultimately found that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election to help Trump, he did not uncover evidence of criminal coordination between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.

Adding to the controversy, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified several documents last month that she claims challenge the findings of the 2017 intelligence report. Gabbard has accused former Obama administration officials of orchestrating a “treasonous conspiracy” and said she will refer the matter to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has since authorized prosecutors to examine testimony from those Obama-era officials. A federal grand jury could be seated in South Florida, a region where Trump performed strongly in the 2024 election. Experts note that this venue could offer political and legal advantages for Trump.

With the burn bag discovery and potential legal action on the horizon, the Justice Department’s investigation represents the most aggressive challenge yet to the legitimacy of the original Russia probe. It also signals a renewed push by Trump’s allies to hold former officials accountable and reshape the narrative around the 2016 election.