Breitbart has been condemned for publishing the names of the FBI agents involved in this week’s attack on former President Donald Trump’s resort home. A diverse group of FBI agents are pictured in this photo taken in Milford, Michigan on May 24, 2006. Bill Puliano/Getty
Conservative media outlet Breitbart is facing criticism for publishing the names of FBI agents involved in the raid on former President Donald Trump’s home.
On Friday, Breitbart published a leaked version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant, including the names of an FBI special agent and a supervising agent. Both agents signed their names to receipts for property seized from Trump’s home, including boxes of classified documents said to contain nuclear secrets. A redacted version of the warrant, which omitted the agents’ names, was officially released hours later.
Commentators soon took to Twitter to accuse Breitbart, an outlet previously run by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, of doxxing — the practice of identifying a person or revealing personal information about them, often with the goal of enabling targeted harassment. Some also accused Trump of issuing the order to Breitbart in hopes of attacking the agents.
“[U.S. Attorney General Merrick] Garland subpoenaed Trump to make the warrant public,” tweeted digital strategist Alan Rosenblatt. “Trump tried to get one from Garland by releasing the warrant to Breitbart without redacting the names of the FBI agents. That’s right, Trump doxed FBI agents serving a legal search warrant. Once again, Trump is inciting violence.”
Garland called Trump to make the order public.
Trump tried to get one against Garland, issuing an order to Breitbart without redacting the names of the FBI agents.
That’s right, Trump doxed FBI agents serving a legal search warrant.
Once again, Trump is inciting violence.
— (((Dr. Alan Rosenblatt))) (@DrDigiPol) August 12, 2022
“It’s also worth noting that they released the names of the FBI agents, which serves no other purpose than to open them up to threats and harassment,” tweeted legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti. “Breitbart is also confused about what ‘SSA’ means. It refers to a special supervisory agent, head of the FBI.”
It’s also worth noting that they released the names of the FBI agents, which serves no other purpose than to open them up to threats and harassment.
Breitbart is also confused about what “SSA” means. Refers to a special supervisory agent, head of the FBI. https://t.co/EifmjUlntM
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) August 12, 2022
“Trump, via Breitbart, released an unredacted copy of a property receipt containing the names of FBI agents,” attorney Mark S. Zeid tweeted. “Based on his history, this can only be interpreted as intentionally causing grief to these special agents (one of whom I know) and their families and subjecting them to possible threats.”
Trump, via Breitbart, released an unredacted copy of a property receipt containing the names of FBI agents. Based on his history, this can only be interpreted as intentionally causing grief to these special agents (one of whom I know) and their families and subjecting them to possible threats. 😡
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) August 13, 2022
“From what I can tell, the court unsealed it — but before that happened, Trump himself leaked it to Breitbart,” author Tessa Dare tweeted. “But the version he put out contained the NAMES of the FBI AGENTS, while the official printed version kept the redacted to protect them and their families. A hole.”
“[Breitbart] including the names of the individual FBI agents involved in the search,” Elephant Journal tweeted. “Court issues warrant release, redacts this sensitive information. The Trump team just put a target on the backs of agents and their families. That’s 100% the intention.”
“[Breitbart] including the names of the individual FBI agents involved in the search. The court issued the order to redact this sensitive information.”
The Trump team just put a target on the backs of agents and their families.
That is 100% the intention.
— Elephant Journal 🌻(V) (@WaylonLewis & Friends) (@elephantjournal) August 13, 2022
“Trump’s social media platform sent out an alert this afternoon about an article with an unredacted version of the search warrant that included the names of two FBI agents,” CNN correspondent Donnie O’Sullivan tweeted. “These agents’ names are now floating around on pro-Trump social media and they are villains.”
Trump’s social media platform sent out an alert this afternoon about an article with an unredacted version of the search warrant that included the names of two FBI agents.
The names of these agents are now floating around on pro-Trump social media, and they are villains.
— Donnie O’Sullivan (@donie) August 12, 2022
“So… when Trump leaked the warrant documents to WSJ, Fox & Breitbart this afternoon, the names of the transferred FBI agents were not redacted,” news anchor Ed Greenberger tweeted. “Anyone who thinks Trump cares about America or Americans is a damn fool.
So… when Trump leaked the warrant documents to the WSJ, Fox & Breitbart this afternoon, the names of the transferred FBI agents were not redacted.
Anyone who thinks Trump cares about America or Americans is a damn fool.
— Ed Greenberger (@EdGreenberger) August 12, 2022
The FBI received an increase in threats of violence as a result of conservative anger over the attack on Trump’s home. FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the threats, saying Wednesday that “violence against law enforcement is not the answer, no matter what anybody’s worried about.”
Less than 24 hours before Trump’s search warrant leaked to Breitbart, an armed Trump supporter who had recently advocated killing FBI agents online was shot dead by police after allegedly trying to break in at the FBI field office in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Newsweek has reached out to Breitbart for comment.
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