The Susie Wiles phone surveillance saga is heating up faster than a Hollywood summer. What started as a shocking leak about the Biden-era FBI secretly subpoenaing records of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has snowballed into a full-blown scandal. Wiles' former legal eagle took the spotlight Thursday night, February 26, 2026 ET, flatly denying he ever green-lighted the FBI to eavesdrop on her.
He told journalist Marc Caputo, "If I ever pulled a stunt like that, I wouldn't – and shouldn't – have a license to practice law. I'm as shocked as Susie." Wiles is standing by her attorney, pointing fingers at the FBI, suspecting foul play. The revelation drags the story into murky legal waters, brewing questions about the FBI's account and whether it involves deception at its core.
Back in 2023, the FBI reportedly recorded a candid chat between Wiles and her attorney. Eyebrows are arching at the FBI's claim that the attorney knew about and consented to the recording, while Wiles was in the dark. This sneaky move was no run-of-the-mill tap – it was a covert operation that has now sparked a legal and political uproar.
"I am in shock," Wiles reportedly said, echoing the disbelief resonating throughout her circle. Her attorney's public denial added fuel to the fire, catapulting the ordeal from a political skirmish to a potential courtroom drama.
In a dramatic twist, FBI Director Kash Patel has axed agents and analysts who were part of the team gathering intel on him and Wiles during the Biden administration. The axe fell on Wednesday, as part of the Trump administration's purging spree targeting officials linked to the Jack Smith investigation.
This development follows a wave of criticism Patel faced after a public mishap involving a celebratory drink during the Team USA Olympic run. Trump insiders are hinting this scandal is just "the tip of the iceberg," suggesting a deeper, undisclosed investigation into Trump-world figures.
The FBI Agents Association isn't taking the firings lying down. They've come out swinging, condemning the "unlawful termination" of FBI personnel. "The FBIAA condemns today's unlawful termination of FBI Special Agents, which – like other firings by Director Patel – violates the due process rights of those who risk their lives to protect our country," they declared.
In a surprising twist, FBI spokesman Ben Williamson posted a confirmation of the subpoenas on X, a direct acknowledgment that has only stoked the fires of controversy surrounding Patel's combative response.
Patel pulled back the curtain on the FBI's stealthy maneuvers, revealing that "toll records" – basically the who, when, and where of calls – were snatched up for him and Wiles during the frenzied investigation into Trump's Mar-a-Lago document debacle. These records were stashed in "Prohibited Access" files, a clandestine category meant to keep prying eyes away.
Senator Chuck Grassley, a whistleblower on the FBI's secretive "Prohibited Access" files, called the revelations "terrible." He's mapped out a detailed timeline of the investigation, making a case that a web of Republicans might have been caught in this dragnet.
With the scandal escalating, the million-dollar question is whether legal action will follow. Will Wiles or Patel take the FBI to court over these bombshell revelations? Will there be a sweeping Senate probe to unearth who signed off on these subpoenas?
As Friday, February 27 ET, unravels, the saga of unauthorized recordings, high-profile firings, and buried files is shaping up to be one of the biggest political dramas of the Trump era. Stay tuned as this story hurtles forward.