Spy

The “Deep State” is facing a fresh day of reckoning as Kash Patel—the architect of the Nunes Memo and a leading voice for FBI reform—unloaded on the bureau for what he calls a “coordinated criminal effort” to illegally spy on the 2016 Trump campaign. Patel’s latest broadside comes as new details emerge regarding the FBI’s reliance on the discredited Steele Dossier to obtain FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) warrants. At The Modern Memo, we analyze the FBI Director’s rare admission that the FISA court ruled these warrants illegal, the “Carter Page” precedent, and why Patel is vowing that the days of “weaponized surveillance” are over. The FISA Fraud: Lying to the Court The core of Patel’s accusation rests on the fact that the FBI intentionally misled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to obtain wiretaps on Carter Page, a Trump campaign advisor. The Steele Dossier Scams: Patel has long argued—and the DOJ Inspector General later corroborated—that the FBI relied on unverified “opposition research” funded by the Clinton campaign (the Steele Dossier) while hiding the political origins of that data from the court. The “Illegal” Ruling: In a series of public rebukes, the FISC judges themselves ruled that at least two of the four warrants issued against Page were invalid and illegal. The court found that the FBI omitted “material information” and made “misstatements” that were essential to establishing probable cause. FISA Abuse: The FBI Director has acknowledged that the bureau’s applications were “full of inaccuracies and omissions,” admitting that the surveillance of an American citizen should never have proceeded under such flawed pretenses. Kash Patel’s Crusade: Unmasking the ‘Gangsters’ For Kash Patel, the illegal spying wasn’t an “administrative error”—it was a deliberate act of political warfare. The Nunes Memo Legacy: As the primary author of the 2018 Nunes Memo, Patel was the first to sound the alarm on the “Seven Deadly Omissions” in the FBI’s warrant applications. While the corporate media initially dismissed his findings as a “conspiracy theory,” the DOJ’s own internal reviews have since validated his primary claims. “Government Gangsters”: In his recent statements and his book of the same name, Patel characterizes the senior leadership of the 2016-era FBI as “gangsters” who used the tools of national security to influence a domestic election. Systemic Reform: Patel is calling for a total overhaul of the FBI, including moving its headquarters out of Washington D.C. and stripping the bureau of its ability to conduct “unpredicated” domestic surveillance on political figures. The Consequences of the Spy Gate The fallout from the illegal warrants continues to ripple through Washington as the administration moves to “de-weaponize” the Department of Justice. Clinesmith’s Conviction: Patel frequently points to the criminal conviction of FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, who doctored an email to hide the fact that Carter Page was actually working with the CIA, not against the U.S. This “fraud on the court” is seen by Patel as the definitive proof of bad faith. The 702 Debate: The 2016 spying scandal has become the primary ammunition for GOP lawmakers seeking to reform Section 702 of FISA. “If they did it to a presidential candidate, they’re doing it to you,” has become a rallying cry for constitutional conservatives. Final Word Kash Patel’s exposure of the FBI’s illegal spying is more than a history lesson; it is a warning for the future. When you look past the noise of “bureaucratic mistakes” and focus on the data—the illegal warrants, the doctored emails, and the FISA court’s own rebukes—you gain a clearer picture of a system that was turned against the very people it was sworn to protect. Quality information replaces the “Russia collusion” narrative with the reality of a domestic intelligence agency that overstepped its bounds. It allows you to see that while the warrants were ruled illegal, the damage to the public’s trust is still being repaired. By choosing to name the “gangsters,” Patel is ensuring that the “Deep State” can no longer hide behind a badge. Where Facts, Context, and Perspective Matter At The Modern Memo, our goal is simple: to provide clear, well-researched reporting in a media landscape that often feels overwhelming. We focus on substance over sensationalism, and context over commentary. If you value thoughtful analysis, transparent sourcing, and stories that go beyond the headline, we invite you to share our work. Informed conversations start with reliable information, and sharing helps ensure important stories reach a wider audience. Journalism works best when readers engage, question, and participate. By reading and sharing, you’re supporting a more informed public and a healthier media ecosystem. The Modern Memo may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. 📩 Love what you’re reading? Don’t miss a headline! Subscribe to The Modern Memo here!