Justice Department officials connected to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s work were involved in blocking an FBI inquiry into whether Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign violated federal campaign finance laws when it funded the Steele Dossier through intermediaries, according to emails released Thursday.

The documents add to a series of disclosures emerging as the Trump Justice Department pursues a sweeping investigation into alleged anti-Trump conduct inside federal agencies dating back a decade.

The emails appear to show DOJ officials advising the FBI against opening a probe into whether the Clinton campaign improperly used cutouts to finance Fusion GPS and former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. The FBI ultimately did not pursue the potential violations. Two officials now tied to Smith’s investigation were linked to the decision.

—

### Trump DOJ and FBI Expand Investigation into Alleged Political Conspiracy

The Trump DOJ and FBI have opened a wider inquiry into what investigators describe as an ongoing criminal conspiracy involving years of political activity inside federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Congressional investigators have released information over recent months indicating that the FBI quietly began examining Democratic Party-aligned efforts dating back to the Trump-Russia allegations and extending to Smith’s pursuit of President Donald Trump. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to lead the Biden Justice Department’s investigations involving Trump.

—

### Background on Jack Smith and the Arctic Frost Inquiry

Newly declassified materials connected to the Arctic Frost inquiry describe a broad set of legal actions targeting Trump and his allies beginning in 2022, as Trump considered another presidential run.

Before his selection as special counsel, Smith headed the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section from 2010 until early 2015. During that period, the IRS controversy involving Lois Lerner unfolded, in which her division scrutinized conservative nonprofit groups. Lerner apologized for the conduct but denied political motives.

Records show Smith’s unit engaged with Lerner and the IRS during that time, with the IRS transferring nonprofit tax records to the FBI, although no prosecutions followed.

—

### FBI’s Retention of Investigative Documents

Recent disclosures also include the FBI’s discovery of investigative documents kept inside “burn bags” at FBI headquarters. According to court filings connected to the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, the records included materials on the Mar-a-Lago search, the January 6 Capitol breach, the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, and the classified appendix to Special Counsel John Durham’s work.

Just the News reported that more than two dozen Russiagate-related subpoenas are planned, coinciding with new information disclosed in the Comey prosecution. Additional records show that long-standing investigative materials related to Trump had been retained inside the FBI without full disclosure.

—

### Federal Election Commission Findings on 2016 Clinton Campaign Payments

The Federal Election Commission ruled in 2022 that there was “probable cause” to believe Hillary for America and the Democratic National Committee violated federal law by misreporting payments connected to Fusion GPS.

– The DNC paid $849,407, and
– The Clinton campaign paid $175,000 to Perkins Coie.

The FEC said the campaign labeled the expenses as “legal services,” and the DNC described them as “legal and compliance consulting.”

Clinton campaign lawyer Marc Elias hired Fusion GPS in 2016, and Fusion in turn hired Steele. Elias testified that he met with Steele during the campaign, knew Steele planned to brief reporters, and provided periodic updates to the Clinton campaign based on Fusion’s research.

Special Counsel John Durham later said campaign officials, Fusion GPS, and Perkins Coie acted jointly in advancing collusion claims during the 2016 race. The FBI declined to open a criminal investigation into the campaign finance matter.

—

### Key DOJ Officials Involved in Decision Not to Investigate

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Thursday that emails show the decision was made by Richard Pilger, then a leader in the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, and J. P. Cooney, then with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

Grassley noted that Pilger later played a key role in approving the launch of Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation, and that Cooney served as Smith’s deputy special counsel.

An FBI communication dated July 2019, released Thursday, showed the bureau sought consultation from DOJ officials regarding “DNC and Fusion GPS FEC violations.” The document indicated the FBI did not move forward after receiving input from Pilger and Cooney.

—

### Grand Jury Subpoenas and Expanded Investigations

A federal grand jury is issuing more than 30 subpoenas related to Trump-Russia allegations. Additional subpoenas involve former CIA Director John Brennan and his handling of Steele’s dossier and the 2016 intelligence community assessment. A grand jury in South Florida is overseeing portions of the inquiry.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe sent a referral on Brennan in July, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also delivered declassified evidence to the DOJ describing a “treasonous conspiracy.”

New information indicates Comey expected Clinton to win in 2016 and was aware of intelligence describing a Clinton plan linking Trump to Russia. Records also reference alleged leaks by Comey’s associate Daniel Richman.

—

### Phone Records Obtained in Arctic Frost Investigation

Further disclosures show Smith and the FBI obtained phone records from eight Republican senators and one Republican House member during the Arctic Frost investigation.

A 2023 FBI record stated investigators conducted a limited toll analysis involving calls associated with the following members of Congress:
– Senators Ron Johnson, Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn
– Representative Mike Kelly

Lawyers for Smith defended the decision. Grassley released documents showing Smith issued nearly 200 subpoenas seeking information from more than 400 Republican officials and groups.

—

### High-Level Approvals and Coordination with White House

Records further show that Attorney General Merrick Garland, then-FBI Director Chris Wray, and then-Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco approved the Arctic Frost inquiry.

Emails also show coordination between the Biden White House Counsel’s Office and an FBI agent to transfer phones belonging to former President Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Arctic Frost extended to dozens of Republican officials and organizations, according to documents released earlier this year.

—

### Continued Scrutiny of Smith’s DOJ Tenure

Smith’s earlier period at DOJ continues to receive scrutiny. Congressional records show he arranged meetings between DOJ officials and IRS leadership in 2010 and 2013 to discuss campaign finance enforcement.

Representatives Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa sought Smith’s testimony in 2014, citing concerns about DOJ involvement. Smith testified that the Public Integrity Section debated possible investigations but did not open cases.

Senate investigators reported that IRS and DOJ officials exchanged documents and explored potential theories for criminal charges involving tax-exempt organizations. They described follow-up contacts between DOJ officials and IRS leaders, including discussions about 501(c)(4) political activity. An IRS official cautioned DOJ that the agency had not seen conduct warranting criminal investigation.

Senate investigators later described DOJ’s interest as unusually aggressive compared with standard IRS enforcement practices.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/11/new-docs-expose-jack-smiths-direct-connection-to-russia-collusion-clinton-cover-up-watch/