FBI axes public corruption squad ‘CR15' that backed Special Counsel Jack Smith's probe into Donald Trump's Capitol riots
The FBI Washington Field Office under Director Kash Patel shut down the unit that supported Jack Smith's investigation into Donald Trump
In a major shake-up, the
FBI
has shut down one of its key units known as CR15, the same squad that supported
special counsel
Jack Smith
's investigation into US President
Donald Trump
.
The closure of the federal public
corruption
squad was confirmed by three people familiar with the matter, NBC News reported.
CR15 played a central role in the FBI's 'Arctic Frost' investigation, which laid the groundwork for Smith's probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. That probe ultimately led to one of the two federal cases against
Trump
, both of which have since been dropped after his election victory.
FBI officials said agents from CR15 will be reassigned to other parts of the bureau. A spokesperson explained that the decision to shut down CR15 was part of a broader reorganisation of the FBI's Washington Field Office, with more changes expected soon.
The bureau stressed that public corruption investigations will continue under the new structure.
The closure comes at a time when FBI resources are increasingly being directed towards immigration enforcement. The area is mainly handled by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is under the Department of Homeland Security.
The decision also follows earlier cuts at the Justice Department, which significantly reduced the Public Integrity Section that also investigated corruption.
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Several staff members resigned after reportedly refusing to drop the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. A judge later dismissed the case and barred it from being reopened, saying it would give the government unfair leverage over the mayor.
'This is yet another sign that it's open season for political corruption,' said Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection. 'The administration gutted the Public Integrity Section, neutered the U.S.
Attorney's Office in D.C., and is now shuttering the FBI's pre-eminent federal public corruption squad. This isn't what voters had in mind when they heard, 'drain the swamp.''
Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson, who had scrutinised CR15's work, welcomed the closure. Grassley said, 'It's good news it's been shut down after I exposed the unit for its misconduct.'
The investigation into Trump began before he launched his 2024 campaign. Though Smith indicted Trump in 2023, the case stalled amid appeals. Smith's report said that Trump 'inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence' during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots and knowingly spread false claims of election fraud.
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