During a recent hearing by the Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights, senior counsel Will Chamberlain raised serious concerns about the FBI’s conduct under the Biden administration. This testimony took place on March 24, 2026, and drew a striking comparison to the Watergate scandal, suggesting that the current situation represents an even more troubling abuse of power.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led the line of questioning, referencing a document released by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley. Lee noted that the FBI had labeled a record as a “prohibited file” to prevent public knowledge of its contents. Chamberlain confirmed this designation, indicating it was indeed correct.
The crux of the hearing focused on a phone call from 2023 between Susie Wiles, then the campaign manager for President Trump, and her attorney. Lee inquired whether the recording was done legally, particularly in light of the attorney’s denial of having consented to the arrangement. Chamberlain affirmed, “That’s true. That was widely reported.” This admission raises significant questions about the legality of the FBI’s actions regarding consent for wiretapping.
When pressed about whether the wiretap was illegal, Chamberlain stated clearly, “That’s correct.” Lee followed up with a broader ethical question, asking if it is appropriate for a sitting president to instruct the FBI to monitor an opposing campaign. Chamberlain did not hesitate in his response: “Absolutely not.”
Lee further emphasized the severity of the situation by comparing it to the Watergate scandal. “Isn’t listening to a private conversation between a presidential campaign manager and her lawyer in many ways much more serious as an abuse of government power than an attempted wiretap of the DNC headquarters in Watergate?” he asked. Chamberlain agreed, explaining, “Correct, because there’s two, you know, interests being invaded.”
He elaborated, highlighting the double violation at play: the invasion of privacy inherent in the wiretap itself, and the additional gravity stemming from the conversation’s privileged nature. “A privileged conversation which, regardless of who is involved in it, is supposed to be privileged,” he remarked, adding that this issue takes on heightened importance when it involves a campaign manager for the leading challenger to the incumbent president.
The hearing also featured questions from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) directed at Margot Cleveland of The Federalist. Cruz’s inquiry centered on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s controversial investigation tactics, particularly regarding the effort to subpoena toll records for members of Congress. Cleveland pointed out the constitutional issues surrounding such actions. When the subpoena was issued to AT&T for Cruz’s records, the company refused, citing potential violations of the Constitution. Smith ultimately retracted his demand, illustrating a recognition of these constitutional challenges.
Cleveland’s statements suggested that Smith was fully aware of the legal boundaries he was crossing and that the violations were not accidental. This acknowledgment underscores the gravity of the concerns raised during this hearing, particularly regarding the integrity of the procedural safeguards meant to protect against governmental overreach.
In summary, the testimony provided by Chamberlain, along with the questions from Senators Lee and Cruz, indicates profound dissatisfaction with the current state of oversight and the conduct of the FBI in political matters. With references to past scandals and serious allegations of misconduct, the discussion suggests a potentially damaging precedent for governmental authority and civil liberties.
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