Federal investigators have sought to interview several Democratic officials and aides in connection with accusations leveled by former President Donald Trump, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The outreach appears to be part of a preliminary effort to determine whether the claims warrant further inquiry, officials said.
The FBI did not comment on the specifics of the contacts, citing the bureau’s longstanding policy of not discussing open investigations. Representatives for the Democrats who were approached said they were cooperating with requests for voluntary interviews while denying any wrongdoing.
Trump and his allies have repeatedly accused Democrats and certain government officials of misconduct related to his political activities. Those allegations have prompted the FBI to review available information to assess credibility and potential legal issues, the sources said.
Legal experts said it is not uncommon for the FBI to seek voluntary interviews early in a matter as a way to gather facts and identify leads. They cautioned that outreach does not indicate guilt or the opening of a formal criminal case. Some political figures described the move as routine; others criticized it as politically motivated.
The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and congressional oversight committees have in past instances reviewed politically sensitive probes to ensure proper procedures were followed. It remained unclear how many people the FBI has contacted, what specific accusations prompted the outreach, or whether the efforts will result in broader investigative steps.
