Former Trump official Kash Patel has handed over hundreds of declassified documents to Congress related to the FBI’s now-discredited Trump–Russia collusion investigation, known as Crossfire Hurricane. This marks a major move toward transparency in a long-running political and legal saga.
What’s Being Released—and Why Now?
The documents include nearly 700 pages of records—now referred to as the “Crossfire Hurricane Redacted Binder”—dated April 9, 2025. The release was ordered by former President Donald Trump through a March 2025 executive order, reviving an effort he started during his last days in office in January 2021.
Trump’s order aims to fully declassify materials from the FBI’s probe into his 2016 campaign. At the time, Trump believed the investigation was driven by political motives, not real evidence.
A Look Back: What Was Crossfire Hurricane?
Launched by the FBI in 2016, the Crossfire Hurricane investigation looked into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election. But:
- Robert Mueller’s 2-year investigation concluded that there was no criminal conspiracy.
- A later probe by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz found the FBI made serious mistakes—especially in using a controversial dossier by former British spy Christopher Steele to justify spying on Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
- Special Counsel John Durham later confirmed the FBI had no solid evidence of collusion when the investigation began.
Why Wasn’t This Released Sooner?
In January 2021, Trump ordered the declassification of these documents, but his own Justice Department and the FBI under Director Christopher Wray delayed or blocked the release—arguing some parts still needed redacting.
Even after a memo from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows pushed for the release, the documents stayed locked away. For the next four years, the Biden administration’s DOJ and FBI also resisted releasing them.
Now, Patel is following through on Trump’s final directive—finally making the records available to Congress and the public.
What Do the Documents Show?
The documents are expected to highlight how:
- The FBI relied heavily on unverified claims in the Steele dossier.
- There was no confirmed evidence of collusion when the investigation started.
- Key figures—including Senator Adam Schiff—continued to push the collusion narrative in public, despite mounting doubts behind the scenes.
What Happens Next?
Congress will likely examine the materials for:
- Missteps or misconduct by the FBI and DOJ
- Political motivations behind the investigation
- How intelligence tools were used against a sitting U.S. president
Some believe this release could lead to greater calls for accountability, while others see it as a final chapter in a politically charged saga that has divided Americans for nearly a decade.
