Alarming information recently emerged about a “secure workspace” for the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) at the Democratic law firm Perkins Coie. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was on Tucker Carlson's show earlier in the week and shared the details. Gaetz and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) learned about the cozy space when they received whistleblower information about Perkins Coie. The first time they were informed of this space was by the whistleblower. According to Gaetz, the question is: Why did the FBI have a safe work area in Perkins Coie? The facility had allegedly been in use since 2012.
“Perkins Coie is responsible to the FBI for maintaining the Secure Work Environment,” the letter was reported to have read.
Gaetz and Jordan are now seeking answers from the FBI. They've written to FBI Director Christopher Wray, demanding an explanation. “We have learned that since March 2012, the FBI approved and facilitated a Secure Work Environment at Perkins Coie's Washington, D.C. office, which continues to be operational,” the letter states. “In a letter dated May 25, 2022, the law firm confirmed and acknowledged the arrangement.”
The Congressmen’s letter states that it is true that Michael Sussmann, the former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer who was cleared by the FBI, was granted access rights to the Secure Work Environment until some time in 2021. He was also granted “limited supervised access thereafter.”
In the event that it is true, it is relevant given the current legal case against Sussmann. Do they believe that Sussmann had access to this workplace after 2021 when he quit on September 20, 2021? What happened? Was the relationship terminated in 2021?
The FBI's answer to the question is fascinating. They do not mention Perkins Coie. However, they appear to acknowledge the existence of a space while attempting to justify the existence of such a space. “The FBI complies with the regulations and security laws and cooperates together with the Department of Justice to serve court-approved legal processes that are classified and that are necessary to assist national security investigation. In some instances,… the FBI cooperates with non-government third-party companies, like law firms that represent service providers who receive these court orders that are classified,” an FBI spokesperson stated to Fox News Digital. “This involves the provision of access to private attorneys who can represent the service providers to protect the legal obligations they have. In addition, the FBI ensures that the storage of classified orders complies with strict security standards for these documents.”
Gaetz claimed they wanted answers from Wray before June 15, and there were some serious concerns raised by this connection. “Our concern is that politically motivated dirt was being converted into politically motivated investigations,” Gaetz declared during an appearance on Fox News. “That's the reason why Jim Jordan and I are seeking answers [from] Christopher Wray immediately. I hope for us to close this facility.”
He is seeking any documentation pertaining to the workspace, including who had access and for what reasons, as well as the times and dates this space was cleared. In the meantime, Perkins Coie isn't talking. Congress requires clarification from Christopher Wray as to what this particular space was and why it was located at Perkins. If it's about allowing Perkins to look over documents, then why isn't it at the FBI and why do they not provide more information? From what other locations are they able to access this information apart from Perkins, since their attempt to explain the relationship suggests that there are other locations? Who can access FBI databases with access to this space? And who had access to this area during the time it's been operational? If Sussmann has been the point of contact, with whom did he collaborate on behalf of the FBI on this?
