The current director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, recently revealed that a large number of classified documents related to the "Russia investigation" were found in the FBI headquarters building — these documents, which should have been destroyed, were sealed in a secret room that had never been publicly mentioned.

Even more astonishing is that these documents were the "basic intelligence" collected by former special prosecutor John Durham when he investigated why the FBI initiated the investigation into the Trump campaign's "Russia connection" during the 2016 election. Durham had concluded in his final report that the FBI's hasty initiation of the investigation without sufficient evidence was a "serious dereliction of duty."

Kash Patel, current director of the FBI

This revelation has dropped a bombshell, not only giving Trump and his supporters renewed hope that there might be deeper shadows behind the "Russia investigation," but also drawing public attention to the disturbing hidden operations within the FBI: Why were these documents, which could potentially overturn historical narratives, sealed in burn bags and hidden in a rarely known room? And who decided that these documents must "disappear"?

Secret Room and Burn Bags: The Truth Almost Buried Forever

According to Patel, these documents should have been destroyed long ago. The so-called "burn bags" are the standard method used by U.S. government agencies to destroy confidential materials, aiming to ensure that no sensitive information could leak out. However, for some unknown reason, these "documents that should disappear" ended up being forgotten in a room that even current senior officials were unaware of.

A source familiar with the situation told the Daily Mail that it was likely a "negligence" by previous FBI leaders that led to the failure to destroy the documents; if not for Patel's thorough inventory after taking office, these materials might never have come to light.

An FBI spokesperson later confirmed that the investigation results had been submitted to the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Iowa Republican veteran Chuck Grassley, and would be made public soon. For Trump and his MAGA camp, this is a "late but crucial victory."

Trump: This Was a Democratic "Conspiracy"

Facing the media, President Trump did not hide his desire for these materials to be made public: "I hope everything can be open, as long as it is fair and reasonable. I want to see those who may be guilty exposed." However, he also maintained skepticism: "If the FBI really had something, they would have already published it."

For years, Trump has denounced the "Russia investigation" as a "political persecution" against himself, insisting it was a conspiracy orchestrated by Democrats to undermine his legitimacy as a candidate and president. Although Durham's investigation did not prove guilt, it supported part of Trump's claims: the FBI's hasty initiation of the investigation without sufficient evidence was indeed unprofessional.

"Firestorm" and Durham's Legacy

In 2016, the FBI launched an counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign's possible collusion with Russia to interfere in the U.S. election, code-named "Firestorm." Years later, this investigation evolved into the "Russia investigation" led by special prosecutor Robert Mueller, shaking Washington and casting a shadow over Trump's presidency.

Durham was tasked with re-investigating the FBI's decisions and ultimately released a report in 2023 stating that the FBI's investigation had "serious flaws," but no criminal offenses were found, nor was there proof that the Trump team actually colluded with the Russian government.

For Trump, such conclusions were both partial vindication and an unfinished revenge — because in the eyes of him and his supporters, the "Russia investigation" itself was the largest political scam in American history.

Patel's Revenge Plan: Purge and Transparency

Patel had been one of the most ardent critics of the "Russia investigation." Now as FBI director, he quickly launched a major internal "clean-up." Reports suggest that he has started firing several senior agents accused of favoring Democrats and promised a "wave of transparency," thoroughly re-examining all investigations involving Trump from 2016 onwards.

He mentioned in an interview with podcast host Joe Rogan that upon entering the Hoover Building, he discovered a mysterious room filled with files and hard drives. According to reports, this information was deliberately hidden, and even ordinary staff members were unaware of the room's existence.

Gabbard and the "Putin Card": Another Conspiracy?

At almost the same time, former Trump National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard dropped another bombshell: She claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had held destructive evidence about Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election, but did not release it, intending to use it to counter her once she took office.

"The intelligence community intentionally suppressed that information," Gabbard accused, which precisely indicates that Russia truly wanted Hillary to win, rather than Trump. Her statements completely overturned the mainstream narrative that Russia wished for Trump to win in 2016.

Mueller Report vs. Conspiracy Theories

It should be noted that although the Mueller report did not prove that the Trump team "colluded with Russia," it confirmed that the Russian government did systematically interfere in the 2016 election and favored Trump's victory. Now, with Patel and Gabbard's revelations, Trump and his allies have reignited the claim that the "Russia investigation" was a political persecution.

Nevertheless, most legal experts believe that even if the FBI's investigation had flaws, it does not mean that Trump had no contact with Russia. Democrats, on the other hand, accuse Trump of "diverting attention," trying to erase the real interference by the Putin government.

The secrets in the "burn bags" might just be the result of the FBI's internal mismanagement, or they might contain key information that could change the narrative of American politics. Regardless, this discovery once again reminds people that between politics, intelligence, and truth, there is often the hardest-to-cross fog.

Trump's supporters firmly believe that the truth is coming; opponents argue that this is merely another recycling of conspiracy theories. And when the documents are unveiled, what is left for the world is perhaps even deeper doubt.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7532956912149676571/

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