Attorney Ty Clevenger has launched a strong attack against the FBI, demanding accountability for its handling of documents related to the murder of Seth Rich, a former DNC staffer whose death remains shrouded in mystery. In a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, Clevenger highlights a troubling pattern of secrecy surrounding critical records.
Seth Rich was gunned down in July 2016, just before the controversial leak of Hillary Clinton’s emails. While mainstream narratives suggest Russian interference in the election, figures like Julian Assange have proposed an alternative theory: that Rich was the source of those emails for Wikileaks. This speculation has added layers to an already complex case.
In February 2024, Clevenger escalated his efforts by demanding the FBI release documents relating to Rich that they have allegedly kept hidden. The agency’s past denials about possessing Rich’s laptop raise significant concerns about transparency. “For years the FBI insisted they didn’t have Seth Rich’s laptop, but we forced them to admit they had it all along,” Clevenger noted. Despite this admission, the agency continues to withhold vital metadata from Rich’s electronic devices. This refusal, he argues, follows a broader trend of obstruction concerning information that could challenge the official narrative around Russian interference.
Clevenger’s allegations extend to the FBI’s handling of the CrowdStrike report—a critical document purportedly linked to the DNC cyber attack. According to Clevenger, pages from this report were improperly withheld, making it apparent that the agency might be protecting its interests over transparency. In April, Clevenger filed a motion in federal court to hold the FBI in contempt, alleging a “deliberate and willful defiance” of a court order meant to ensure the release of information regarding Rich’s case.
The attorney, who represents plaintiff Brian Huddleston in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, claims the FBI is intentionally keeping documents away from public scrutiny. These documents, he argues, may hold the potential not only to exonerate Russia but also to reveal that the DNC hack was an inside job. Clevenger’s commitment to transparency is evident, as he insists on the need for accountability in how the FBI has managed this investigation.
Recently, Clevenger sent a pointed letter to James Gillingham, the attorney representing the FBI, addressing procedural missteps by former FBI Director James Comey. He pointed to Comey’s habit of misspelling names of key figures like Hillary Clinton and Anthony Weiner to evade discovery during keyword searches. This manipulation raises eyebrows and reinforces the notion of a corrupt organizational culture within the FBI.
Clevenger’s investigation reveals a broader issue of trust. “Comey used a private email account under a fake name to conceal his communications,” he observed, suggesting deliberate intent to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act. Additionally, evidence points to FBI personnel mismanaging Comey’s handwritten notes—some reportedly discarded in “burn bags” just before President Biden’s inauguration in 2025.
This shows that even years after Comey left, there remain factions willing to undermine public trust and governmental accountability. The implications of these findings are profound. They suggest ongoing attempts to conceal information and direct connections to the broader ramifications of the 2016 election scandal.
In light of these developments, Clevenger has proposed a comprehensive set of interrogatories aimed at former and current FBI personnel. He seeks to uncover the extent to which the agency has concealed or mishandled documents related to Seth Rich. Clevenger’s demands for clarity are straightforward: he wants to know about every email or messaging system used, along with any attempts to elude accountability regarding documents related to Rich.
He has also called for a thorough examination of various communication systems by the FBI, encouraging investigators to look for misspellings, pseudonyms, or codenames associated with Seth Rich or related individuals. If the FBI continues to resist expanding its search, Clevenger indicates a willingness to escalate the matter with the presiding judge.
Despite these revelations, Clevenger has yet to receive a response to his requests, leaving the door open for further scrutiny of the agency’s practices. As more details arise regarding the FBI’s tactics and motivations, the pressing questions surrounding Seth Rich’s murder and the agency’s role in the unfolding narrative become even more critical to the pursuit of truth.
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