In a recent interview, Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine shed light on the FBI’s handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 presidential election. Levine spoke to Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley about the FBI’s actions following the New York Post’s publication of the laptop story in October 2020.
Levine revealed that after the story broke, the FBI instructed its agents to refrain from discussing it. This directive included reprimanding an agent who confirmed the laptop’s authenticity. According to chat logs from the House Judiciary Committee, an FBI analyst was scolded for not keeping quiet about the matter, highlighting the agency’s efforts to suppress the story.
Levine noted that he and his colleagues at the New York Post had suspected the FBI was aware of the laptop’s legitimacy. However, the new information from the House Judiciary Committee was surprising. He pointed out that during the same period, the FBI was publicly suggesting the laptop could be part of a Russian disinformation campaign, despite knowing it was real. This contradiction raised concerns about the FBI’s motives and actions.
A review by Daily Wire reporter Luke Rosiak of the laptop’s contents indicated that Hunter Biden was involved in various business dealings that leveraged his family’s name, potentially implicating Joe Biden as well. The FBI’s awareness of the laptop and their request for social media companies to monitor for a Russian "hack and leak" operation suggested they were aware of its significance before the story was published.
Levine criticized the FBI for not just remaining neutral but actively trying to discredit the New York Post’s reporting. He argued that the FBI’s actions amounted to an information operation aimed at influencing the election in favor of Joe Biden. He expressed concern about restoring trust in the FBI, suggesting that a complete overhaul of its leadership is necessary to prevent future abuses of power.
Levine emphasized that the issue lies not with the rank-and-file agents, whom he deemed competent, but with the leadership that has mismanaged the agency. He proposed a streamlined FBI to reduce the risk of power being abused, especially with the potential for political shifts in the future.
As the fallout from the Hunter Biden laptop saga continues, the implications for the FBI and its role in American politics remain significant.