White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was reportedly left “in shock” after learning that the FBI under former President Joe Biden subpoenaed her phone records during high-profile investigations into President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports.
Wiles, who served as Trump’s 2024 campaign manager before becoming chief of staff, told associates, “I am in shock,” after details of the subpoenas became public, Axios reported. The development has reignited debate over the scope of investigative tactics used during the Biden-era Justice Department’s pursuit of cases tied to Trump.
Reuters first disclosed that federal investigators subpoenaed toll records belonging to Wiles and current FBI Director Kash Patel in 2022 and 2023. The subpoenas were issued while special counsel Jack Smith was leading investigations into Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
The records obtained consisted of metadata — including phone numbers and the dates and times of calls — but did not include the content of any conversations.
However, in addition to the toll record subpoenas, the FBI recorded a 2023 phone call between Wiles and her attorney. Two FBI officials told the outlet that the attorney was aware the call was being recorded and consented, but Wiles herself was not aware.
The revelation that the campaign manager of a former and future president had her records subpoenaed has sent shockwaves through Trump allies and congressional Republicans, many of whom argue the move reflects politically motivated overreach.
The subpoenas were issued during an aggressive investigative phase. In 2023, Smith charged Trump with multiple felony counts related to alleged election interference and classified documents retention. Trump denied wrongdoing. After Trump’s re-election in 2024, Smith moved to drop the election interference case, which was dismissed by a federal judge. Smith also dropped the Justice Department’s appeal in the classified documents matter.
The circumstances surrounding that recording have further inflamed critics, who argue that investigative boundaries may have been pushed too far.
Patel, who now leads the bureau, issued a blistering statement condemning the actions of prior FBI leadership.
“It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records — along with those of now White House chief of staff Susie Wiles — using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” Patel said.
Patel has stated that one of his early reforms as director was eliminating the FBI’s ability to categorize files as “Prohibited,” a designation he argues limited internal visibility and shielded sensitive actions from routine oversight channels.
The controversy coincided with a wave of firings inside the bureau. At least 10 FBI employees were terminated this week, though officials declined to release names, citing privacy protections.
The FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), however, issued a sharply worded statement condemning the firings.
“The FBIAA condemns today’s unlawful termination of FBI Special Agents, which — like other firings by Director Patel — violates the due process rights of those who risk their lives to protect our country,” the association said. “These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau’s ability to meet its recruitment goals — ultimately putting the nation at greater risk.”
The revelations come amid broader Republican efforts to examine the investigative conduct of the Biden-era Justice Department. House GOP lawmakers have already held contentious hearings with Smith and other officials, questioning the scope of surveillance tools and subpoena authority used during the Trump probes.
Legal experts note that toll record subpoenas are not uncommon in federal investigations and do not automatically imply wrongdoing by the individuals whose records are collected. However, the political sensitivity of this case has intensified scrutiny.
It remains unclear whether additional subpoenas were issued to other Trump advisers during the same timeframe. Congressional Republicans are expected to seek further documentation from the Justice Department and FBI regarding the scope of records obtained, the legal justifications cited, and the internal review processes used.