J. Edgar Hoover maintained files on the personal lives of politicians (including presidents Kennedy and Nixon), celebrities, newsmen and activists. He used the files to make sure the FBI was funded, looked upon as a national asset, and that he personally got credit (vice individual agents) for anything positive the Bureau did. He kept the federal government from investigating the Mafia for years, He also threatened various political activists if they didn’t tone down their rhetoric or just fade away from public activities. Why should we believe anything has changed, or that the CIA, NSA etc. haven’t learned from him?
Hadn’t seen your post, but agree 100%. This isn’t new.