Former FBI agent Charles McGonigal, who had a hand in investigating Trump-Russian collusion, was arrested on Saturday for his ties to Russia.
According to CBS, “his ties to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire who has been sanctioned by the United States and criminally charged last year with violating those sanctions.”
In a statement, Michael Driscoll, the FBI assistant director in charge, said, “The FBI is committed to the enforcement of economic sanctions designed to protect the United States and our allies, especially against hostile activities of a foreign government and its actors.”
“Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion, and violence,” Driscoll said. “As alleged, Mr. McGonigal and Mr. Shestakov, both U.S. citizens, acted on behalf of Deripaska and fraudulently used a U.S. entity to obscure their activity in violation of U.S. sanctions. After sanctions are imposed, they must be enforced equally against all U.S. citizens in order to be successful. There are no exceptions for anyone, including a former FBI official like Mr. McGonigal.”
Check out some reactions on Twitter:
BREAKING: FBI official who investigated Trump ties to Russia arrested for illegal ties to Russian oligarch.
This is why I say the FBI needs to be dismantled.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 23, 2023
You can’t make this sh*t up. Wow https://t.co/IQkNxVDAtg
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) January 23, 2023
— Michael Seifert (@realmichaelseif) January 23, 2023
They always accuse others of exactly what they themselves are doing.
Can’t make this shit up. https://t.co/8oQVWXx6VU
— Jaime Ultra Maga Lynn🍊🇺🇸🍊 (@jaimelynn5116) January 23, 2023
The FBI is beyond repair. Poisoned by the Democrats as usual. Because anything they touch turns to sh*t. The FBI MUST be disbanded! https://t.co/Nt0ahNtvjL
— Freedom Firefighter 🔥 (@FirefighterMofo) January 23, 2023
If this doesn’t make you mad, your politics have completely blinded you. When will the apologies start to all of is accused of election a Russian agent? https://t.co/Tpp1VKrg0v
— andante147 (@andante147) January 23, 2023