Trump Team Signs Agreement to Allow F.B.I. Background Checks for Nominees

The New York Times ^ | Dec. 3, 2024Updated 6:21 p.m. ET | Maggie Haberman, Charlie Savage and Jonathan Swan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s transition operation announced on Tuesday that it had belatedly signed an agreement with the Justice Department that will allow the F.B.I. to conduct background checks on people Mr. Trump intends to appoint as senior officials in his new administration.

F.B.I. background checks have long been a routine part of transitions. Law-enforcement vetting of a president-elect’s senior team is normally part of decisions about whether they can be entrusted with access to national security secrets, and senators traditionally want to see such dossiers during the confirmation process.

But Mr. Trump, who is hostile to the F.B.I. because of its role in various criminal and counterintelligence investigations into him, had let weeks pass without signing the agreement.

His team considered bypassing the F.B.I. and instead using private investigators. Under that plan, Mr. Trump would grant security clearances to his picks after his inauguration, and the Senate would not have access to the usual vetting materials.

Despite the signing of the agreement, it remains unclear whether Mr. Trump’s team plans to send the names of all officials requiring a security clearance or Senate confirmation to the F.B.I. for vetting. The announcement did not say whether Mr. Trump would require his appointees to undergo the process or was simply allowing the F.B.I. to begin looking at those who are willing to submit to its scrutiny.

[traditional2]

"Mistake"

Absolutely correct. They will dig for dirt/info on others, to use in trying Fake News trumpeting ANY "accusations", etc., to discredit Nominees, and make FISA surveillance/raids where necessary, to hand over to State Prosecutors via leaks.

[Fester Chugabrew]

He doesn’t have to take them seriously, does he? Why not use them and abuse them?

[Neanderthal]

RINO’s in Senate must have insisted on this.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Big mistake. Bigly.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Probably because Hegseth sneaked through private vetting.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Yep. The FIB gets blackmail material that is then hidden from everyone except the subject and is then used by the Deep State to manipulate the subject.

[Drew68]

MSNBC reporting six GOP Senators are a firm NO on Hegseth unless there's FBI background checks.

If Hegseth gets the boot, I'm gonna be seriously demoralized.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#21: "They will dig for dirt/info on others, to use in trying Fake News trumpeting ANY "accusations"

"When he was in high school, Brian O'Nominee got to second base … he has been mentally undressing women ever since …

[FlingWingFlyer]

President Trump should ask to see background checks on the FBI guyz first.

[goodnesswins]

Um...FBI probably gets their info from NSA

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Why?

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#27: "MSNBC reporting six GOP Senators are a firm NO"

WHO??? — Collins, Murkowski, Romney, who else?

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Senator Collins again ... she is the worst kind of RINO. I bet she votes against most of them with or without FBI approval.

[merzbow]

It’s a gambit. If it’s needed to get Kash, Hegseth, and others through, then sure. Trump is basically daring the FBI to put false/misleading information in these reports. In two months he’ll have the power to fire any of their asses with/without Kash at the helm so Trump is betting that they won’t do it.

[SeekAndFind]

Shouldn’t Kash Patel ALREADY passed a background check when he was working for National Intelligence?

[Nextrush]

It looked a lot nicer when I was a kid and the FBI agent dressed like Efrem Zimbalist Jr. knocked on my door to interview my mom for a background check on someone she worked with at the State Department.

[Neanderthal]

"#27: "MSNBC reporting six GOP Senators are a firm NO"

WHO??? — Collins, Murkowski, Romney, who else?"

*****************************************************************

McConnell for sure. Lindsey Graham maybe?

[Neanderthal]

"#27: "MSNBC reporting six GOP Senators are a firm NO"
WHO??? — Collins, Murkowski, Romney, who else?"

**********************************************************************

Romney will be gone before they vote.

[bigdaddy45]

You don’t keep up with the news much, do you.....

[Waverunner]

Loved that show, and it set the publics view of the FBI for a generation or more. A Quinn Martin production.