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The FBI opened approximately 127,000 assessments between 2018 and 2024, which are investigative tools that can be initiated without a particular factual predication or evidence of criminal activity. About 14 percent of these assessments were converted into full investigations.

The FBI opened approximately 127,000 assessments between 2018 and 2024, which are investigative tools that can be initiated without a particular factual predication or evidence of criminal activity. About 14 percent of these assessments were converted into full investigations.

Between 2018 and 2024, the FBI designated approximately 1,100 assessments as sensitive investigative matters involving public officials, journalists, religious organizations and political candidates. These sensitive assessments were converted to investigations at a rate of 48 percent, significantly higher than the overall conversion rate.

Between 2018 and 2024, the FBI designated approximately 1,100 assessments as sensitive investigative matters involving public officials, journalists, religious organizations and political candidates. These sensitive assessments were converted to investigations at a rate of 48 percent, significantly higher than the overall conversion rate.

The Government Accountability Office found that approximately 5 percent of reviewed assessments included instances of insufficient authorized purposes and approximately 7 percent included instances of unauthorized investigative methods. The FBI relies on staff to self-report noncompliance, which likely undercounts actual violations.

The Government Accountability Office found that approximately 5 percent of reviewed assessments included instances of insufficient authorized purposes and approximately 7 percent included instances of unauthorized investigative methods. The FBI relies on staff to self-report noncompliance, which likely undercounts actual violations.

Assessments allow FBI agents to employ investigative techniques including physical surveillance not requiring a court order, grand jury subpoenas for electronic communications and confidential human sources without meeting evidentiary thresholds required for warrants or other legal authorities used in investigations.

Assessments allow FBI agents to employ investigative techniques including physical surveillance not requiring a court order, grand jury subpoenas for electronic communications and confidential human sources without meeting evidentiary thresholds required for warrants or other legal authorities used in investigations.

Representatives Jamie Raskin and Nancy Mace requested the GAO review in March 2022, expressing concerns that FBI assessments operate as investigations launched without factual predicate of criminal wrongdoing and may result in improper monitoring of protected First Amendment activities by political, racial or religious organizations.

Representatives Jamie Raskin and Nancy Mace requested the GAO review in March 2022, expressing concerns that FBI assessments operate as investigations launched without factual predicate of criminal wrongdoing and may result in improper monitoring of protected First Amendment activities by political, racial or religious organizations.

This comes amid a controversy over the DOJ tracking the search histories of lawmakers while they reviewed unredacted Epstein files at DOJ headquarters. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called it Owellian and a violation of separation of powers , while Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) questioned whether it constituted spying on members of Congress.

This comes amid a controversy over the DOJ tracking the search histories of lawmakers while they reviewed unredacted Epstein files at DOJ headquarters. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called it Owellian and a violation of separation of powers , while Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) questioned whether it constituted spying on members of Congress.

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The Department of Justice tracked the search histories of lawmakers while they reviewed unredacted Epstein files at DOJ headquarters. Representative Jamie Raskin called this monitoring a violation of separation of powers and described it as Orwellian, while Representative Nancy Mace questioned whether it constituted spying on members of Congress.

The Department of Justice tracked the search histories of lawmakers while they reviewed unredacted Epstein files at DOJ headquarters. Representative Jamie Raskin called this monitoring a violation of separation of powers and described it as Orwellian, while Representative Nancy Mace questioned whether it constituted spying on members of Congress.

FBI Opened 127K Assessments Without Evidence Since 2018

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FBI Opened 127K Assessments Without Evidence Since 2018

FBI Opened 127K Assessments Without Evidence Since 2018

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FBI Opened 127K Assessments Without Evidence Since 2018

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