US State Attorney Pam Bondi has dissolved the FBI task force focused on Russian and Chinese influence, according to a directive reported by NBC News. The task force was tasked with countering foreign influence, but Bondi justified the decision by stating the need to “free up resources for more pressing tasks and end the risk of abuse of prosecutorial discretion”.
Bondi also decided to restrict the application of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Prosecutions under this law will now be limited to actions that resemble traditional espionage by foreign government officials, according to her order.
Separately, Bondi disbanded the KleptoCapture working group, which was responsible for searching and seizing assets of Russian companies and businesspeople affected by US sanctions. The freed-up resources will be redirected to the fight against drug cartels and transnational organized crime. The former head of the FBI’s counterintelligence division, Frank Figliuzzi, commented, “It’s unbelievable. Foreign intelligence services now have everything open to exert influence.”
The foreign influence working group was established in 2017, during the first term of Donald Trump, by then-FBI Director Christopher Wray in the wake of reports of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, which Trump won. The group’s efforts targeted attempts to “sow discord, undermine democracy and spread disinformation”.
The investigation into possible Russian interference in the US election and a secret deal between the Trump team and Russia was led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and concluded in 2019. The investigation found no evidence that members of Trump’s campaign team collaborated with Russia in its election interference efforts, but Mueller’s report did confirm that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the allegations of election interference.