Senator Chuck Grassley has launched a major investigation into FBI’s “Prohibited Access” files that may have concealed crucial Russiagate documents and is targeting Special Agent Walter Giardina for allegedly destroying evidence during the Mueller investigation.
At a Glance
- The FBI’s “Prohibited Access” feature in their Sentinel system can make files invisible during searches, potentially concealing evidence from Congress and courts
- Special Agent Walter Giardina is accused of illegally wiping his government laptop while working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller
- Mueller’s team allegedly used “Prohibited Access” to hide Russiagate documents from senior DOJ officials
- Several U.S. attorneys were unaware of this file-hiding functionality, including those vetting Hunter Biden corruption allegations
- Grassley is demanding all records related to Mueller and the Biden family that may be hidden in these restricted files
FBI’s Secret Document System Under Scrutiny
A bombshell revelation about the FBI’s internal document management system has sparked a significant investigation by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley. At issue is the bureau’s “Prohibited Access” feature within their Sentinel case management system, which effectively allows certain files to become invisible during standard searches. This feature reportedly enabled Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team to hide documents related to the Russia collusion investigation, preventing other FBI agents from finding them during authorized searches of the bureau’s systems.
The functionality of this system remained unknown even to several high-ranking federal prosecutors. Scott Brady, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania during the Trump administration, was tasked with vetting information about Ukrainian corruption potentially involving Hunter Biden but was kept in the dark about this critical feature.
Brady’s searches related to Hunter Biden’s laptop yielded no results in Sentinel, a fact now attributed to the “Prohibited Access” feature potentially concealing relevant files. This discovery raises serious questions about transparency within federal law enforcement and whether this system has been misused to protect certain political interests or to hide exculpatory evidence from defendants.
This @chuckgrassley letter alleges that FBI Agent Walter Giardina illegally wiped his laptop to destroy evidence & obstruct justice––the referral was reported to DOJ-IG.
Let’s dig deeper into the Russia Collusion Hoax team’s history of wiping devices…🧵 https://t.co/pXyelCFSO4 pic.twitter.com/6bwtyywQrN
— Oversight Project (@ItsYourGov) June 5, 2025
Special Agent Giardina’s Alleged Misconduct
At the center of Grassley’s investigation is FBI Special Agent Walter Giardina, who faces multiple serious allegations. According to declassified FBI documents, Giardina reportedly illegally wiped his government laptop while working under Special Counsel Mueller’s direction. This act potentially constitutes destruction of federal records, a significant violation of protocol and possibly law. The timing and circumstances of this data purge have raised red flags about potential obstruction of justice.
Beyond the laptop incident, Giardina faces accusations of falsely corroborating the controversial Steele Dossier, which played a significant role in the Russia investigation but has since been largely discredited. Perhaps most troubling are allegations that Giardina openly expressed animosity toward President Trump and allegedly instructed agents to use false predication to investigate the former president, raising serious concerns about political bias corrupting law enforcement procedures.
Constitutional Implications and Congressional Oversight
Senator Grassley has emphasized the potentially far-reaching consequences of using the “Prohibited Access” feature to obscure documents from congressional oversight or during court litigation. In a strongly worded communication to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, Grassley highlighted the constitutional dimensions of the issue.
“As I’m sure you are aware, the impact of parking records in a way that impedes, or in some cases prevents, responsive records from being produced to Congress pursuant to a valid request and during the course of court litigation, whether criminal or civil, is wide-ranging and potentially catastrophic to constitutional requirements,” Grassley wrote to Bondi and Patel.
The investigation is part of a broader effort to address allegations of impropriety in the Mueller investigation and concerns about the FBI’s handling of cases with political implications. Grassley has requested all records related to Mueller and the Biden family that may be hidden in these restricted files, signaling a comprehensive effort to uncover potentially concealed evidence. This inquiry represents a significant test of transparency and accountability within federal law enforcement agencies.
