FBI Blocked Investigation into Chinese Communist Party's Alleged Scheme to Influence 2020 Presidential Election

Strategic Insights -

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) blocked an investigation into allegations that the Chinese Communist Party manufactured fake driver's licenses and shipped them to the U.S. in a scheme to influence the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden. Newly declassified FBI documents obtained by Fox News Digital reveal that the agency recalled a report alleging the scheme because it would "contradict" then-FBI Director Christopher Wray's congressional testimony.

The report was recalled on September 25, 2020, just a day after Wray testified before Congress that the FBI had not seen any coordinated voter fraud ahead of the 2020 election. The FBI directed "recipients" of the original report to "destroy all copies of the original report and remove the original report from all computer holdings." However, FBI Director Kash Patel recently declassified additional documents, including records relating to the re-interview of the source and communications between FBI officials at the time discussing the decision-making behind the recall and its decision not to republish the intelligence reporting.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FBI blocked an investigation into allegations that the Chinese Communist Party manufactured fake driver's licenses and shipped them to the U.S. in a scheme to influence the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden.
  • The report was recalled on September 25, 2020, just a day after Wray testified before Congress that the FBI had not seen any coordinated voter fraud ahead of the 2020 election.
  • The FBI directed "recipients" of the original report to "destroy all copies of the original report and remove the original report from all computer holdings."
  • FBI Director Kash Patel recently declassified additional documents, including records relating to the re-interview of the source and communications between FBI officials at the time discussing the decision-making behind the recall and its decision not to republish the intelligence reporting.
  • The source was a China-based individual who was not a member of the Chinese Communist Party and appeared to be reliable.
  • The source was reinterviewed and provided additional context to support the initial report, but the FBI ultimately decided not to republish the report.
  • The FBI believed that source "appeared to be reliable," and the FBI "did not close the source for cause or lack of credible information."
  • The original FBI reporting document came just a month after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the International Mail Facility at Chicago O'Hare International Airport seized nearly 20,000 fraudulent driver's licenses.
  • From January 2020 through June 30, 2020, CBP officers at that location reported seizing 1,513 shipments of fraudulent documents that included a total of 19,888 counterfeit US driver's licenses.

Statistics:

  • 20,000: Number of fraudulent driver's licenses seized by CBP officers at the International Mail Facility at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
  • 1,513: Number of shipments of fraudulent documents seized by CBP officers at the International Mail Facility at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
  • 19,888: Total number of counterfeit US driver's licenses seized by CBP officers at the International Mail Facility at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
  • 25 September 2020: Date the report was recalled by the FBI.
  • 24 September 2020: Date Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress.

Sources:

  • Fox News Digital, "FBI blocked investigation into Chinese Communist Party's alleged scheme to influence 2020 presidential election, documents reveal,"
  • Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, "I am shocked and troubled by the FBI's decision to recall a report alleging a coordinated election interference scheme by the Chinese Communist Party."
  • FBI Director Kash Patel, "I have declassified additional documents, including records relating to the re-interview of the source and communications between FBI officials at the time discussing the decision-making behind the recall and its decision not to republish the intelligence reporting."
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), "July 2020: CBP Posts New Press Release: `FBI Seeks Tips in Connection with New Photo Scam.'"