Whistleblower claims Trump ordered FBI investigation into immigration protesters

An FBI whistleblower has accused former President Donald Trump of ordering the federal law enforcement agency to investigate anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles, according to reports by the Guardian, CNN, and Common Dreams. The whistleblower claims that the White House demanded the probe into the demonstrators after Mr Trump saw a video on TikTok. [1][2][4][5][6][7]

The whistleblower complaint alleges that the requested investigation violated the constitutional rights of the immigration protesters, CNN and Common Dreams reported. California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla received a copy of the complaint and stated that the allegations are deeply alarming, according to the Guardian. [1][2][4][7]

The allegations come amidst broader operational shifts within the agency. NPR reported that counterintelligence efforts at the FBI are falling behind as President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel focus agency resources on immigration and violent crime, leaving other department priorities understaffed. [3]

Donald Trump serves as the 47th president of the United States, having previously served as the 45th president between 2017 and 2021. [9]