Former FBI Analyst Alleges White House Pressure in Protest Probes

Why it matters locally: While the allegations are national in scope, any potential chilling effect on protests and the documentation of related investigations could indirectly concern groups and individuals within New York who frequently engage in public demonstrations.

WASHINGTON – A former FBI intelligence analyst has stated that supervisors received instructions to avoid written documentation for certain directives. These directives, the analyst explained, related to investigations involving protesters. The analyst specified that many of these instructions came during face-to-face meetings. The former analyst indicated that these particular directives differed from standard procedural documentation. Supervisors, the analyst said, received guidance to refrain from documenting specific instructions. The analyst further explained that many relevant orders were conveyed verbally, rather than through official written channels.