In a stunning development, the FBI has launched a new investigation into the 2022 Supreme Court draft leak that led to a serious assassination attempt against Justice Kavanaugh, raising questions about whether left-wing operatives might finally be exposed after previous investigations mysteriously stalled.
Key Takeaways
- FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has ordered a reinvestigation of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs opinion leak that preceded nationwide protests and an assassination attempt on Justice Kavanaugh.
- The Supreme Court’s original investigation failed to identify the leaker despite the unprecedented breach of Court security and protocol.
- The leaked draft, published by Politico in May 2022, contained Justice Alito’s opinion that “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.”
- Justice Clarence Thomas lamented that trust in the Court has been severely damaged, stating “now that trust or that belief is gone forever.”
- Bongino is requesting public assistance and tips to help solve this critical case of potential public corruption.
FBI Takes Over Where Supreme Court Investigation Failed
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is stepping in where the Supreme Court’s internal investigation came up short, as newly appointed FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced a fresh probe into the 2022 leak of Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The unprecedented breach not only damaged the Court’s reputation but sparked violent protests across the nation, culminating in an attempted assassination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The original investigation, conducted by the U.S. Marshal’s office rather than the FBI, failed to identify the culprit despite interviewing dozens of Court employees.
Bongino, leveraging his background as a former Secret Service agent, isn’t holding back in his determination to uncover the truth. The decision to reopen this case signals a serious commitment to institutional integrity that has been sorely lacking under previous leadership. Conservative justices have repeatedly expressed dismay over the apparent lack of urgency in identifying who was responsible for the most significant breach of Supreme Court confidentiality in modern history.
National Security Implications of the Leak
The leak of Justice Alito’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade sent shockwaves through the nation when Politico published it on May 2, 2022. The Court quickly confirmed its authenticity while condemning the breach. What followed was nothing short of a coordinated attempt to intimidate the judiciary – protesters descended upon the private homes of conservative justices in clear violation of federal law, while leftist groups published the justices’ home addresses online. The situation escalated dangerously when an armed man was arrested near Justice Kavanaugh’s home after admitting plans to assassinate him.
“Shortly after swearing in, the Director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that, understandably, have garnered public interest,” Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative radio host, said on X. “We made the decision to either re-open, or push additional resources and investigative attention, to these cases. These cases are the DC pipe bombing investigation, the cocaine discovery at the prior administration’s White House, and the leak of the Supreme Court Dobbs case. I receive requested briefings on these cases weekly and we are making progress. If you have any investigative tips on these matters that may assist us then please contact the FBI,” said Dan Bongino.
The Biden administration’s Department of Justice faced widespread criticism for its tepid response to these threats against Supreme Court justices. While federal law explicitly prohibits demonstrations intended to influence judges at their residences, the DOJ largely stood down as intimidation tactics continued for weeks. This alarming failure to protect the judicial branch raised serious questions about whether certain political elements were content to allow pressure on the Court to continue.
A Quest for Accountability
The Supreme Court’s internal investigation, led by Colonel Gail Curley, was widely criticized for its ineffectiveness. Despite interviewing 97 Court employees and examining their electronic devices, the investigation yielded no conclusive results. Many conservative observers questioned whether the investigation was deliberately designed to fail, particularly when considering that certain possible leads apparently weren’t pursued. The fact that the FBI wasn’t initially brought in to investigate such a serious breach of national importance only added to suspicions of political interference.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” said Justice Samuel Alito.
Justice Clarence Thomas articulated the devastating impact of the leak, lamenting that trust in the Court has been permanently damaged. “When you lose that trust, especially in the institution that I’m in, it changes the institution fundamentally,” Thomas stated at a conference shortly after the leak. “You begin to look over your shoulder. It’s kind of like an infidelity that you can explain it, but you can’t undo it,” according to Thomas’s assessment, as he later added that “now that trust or that belief is gone forever.”
Renewed Hope for Justice
Bongino’s decision to reopen the investigation provides a fresh opportunity to uncover the truth about who leaked the draft and why. Unlike the initial investigation, the FBI brings substantial investigative resources and expertise to the table. This development represents a significant shift toward accountability that has been missing until now. Many conservative legal scholars have long suspected that the leak was politically motivated to generate public pressure against the Court’s conservative majority before the opinion was officially released.
As the investigation progresses, Americans concerned about the integrity of our institutions will be watching closely. The leak wasn’t merely a breach of confidentiality—it was an attack on the independence of the judiciary itself. Identifying and holding accountable those responsible is essential not just for the Supreme Court’s integrity, but for preserving the separation of powers that forms the backbone of our constitutional republic. The FBI’s renewed commitment to this case signals that no one, regardless of political connections, should be beyond the reach of justice.
