FBI Shutters Corruption Unit That Investigated Trump, Raising Alarms About Accountability and Transparency
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping reorganization that has sent shockwaves through the legal and political communities, the FBI has quietly dismantled its Washington Field Office’s CR15 squad — a specialized unit that investigated high-profile public corruption cases, including the early stages of the probe into former President Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The unit, internally known as CR15, played a pivotal role in the FBI’s “Arctic Frost” investigation, which laid the groundwork for Special Counsel Jack Smith’s criminal case against Trump. The CR15 squad was instrumental in gathering intelligence and evidence that helped shape one of two federal indictments brought against the former president — charges that were later dropped following his re-election in 2024. According to three individuals familiar with the matter, all agents assigned to CR15 will be reassigned to other departments within the bureau.
The FBI confirmed the unit’s closure, attributing the decision to a larger, ongoing reorganization of the Washington Field Office. “Public corruption cases remain a top priority,” an FBI spokesperson said, “and we will continue to pursue them vigorously through other resources.”
But critics say the move marks a disturbing retreat from federal efforts to police political corruption. It comes as the Justice Department has already downsized its Public Integrity Section — a group of prosecutors with a mandate to handle corruption involving public officials. Earlier this year, members of that unit resigned en masse, refusing to sign off on the controversial decision to drop a federal bribery case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In an unusual twist, a judge dismissed the case but added a stipulation preventing the DOJ from reviving it — a condition that exceeds what even the Trump-era DOJ had sought.
Shift Toward Immigration Enforcement Raises Eyebrows
The dismantling of CR15 coincides with what sources say is a broader shift of FBI resources toward immigration enforcement — an area traditionally managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the Department of Homeland Security.
Critics argue this reallocation signals a deliberate strategic shift away from white-collar and political crime in favor of priorities that more closely align with the current administration’s political messaging. While an FBI official insisted that the reassignment of a top Washington Field Office leader was not “for any adversarial reason,” the cumulative changes appear to represent a profound institutional pivot.
“This is yet another sign that it’s open season for political corruption,” said Stacey Young, executive director of Justice Connection, a network of DOJ alumni. “The administration gutted the Public Integrity Section, neutered the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., and is now shuttering the FBI’s preeminent public corruption squad. This isn’t what voters had in mind when they heard, ‘drain the swamp.’”
Partisan Fallout and Accusations of Political Weaponization
On Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers responded to the news with both satisfaction and concern. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, have been openly critical of CR15. They previously accused the unit of pursuing politically motivated investigations targeting conservatives.
“My oversight has shown time and again how the FBI’s CR15 unit was weaponized to execute one-sided political attacks, particularly against President Trump and his allies,” Grassley said in a statement. “It’s good news it’s been shut down after I exposed the unit for its misconduct. Transparency brings accountability.”
Still, the shuttering of an entire unit dedicated to investigating federal-level corruption raises serious questions about how future cases — especially those involving powerful political figures — will be handled. With the DOJ’s own integrity unit downsized, and CR15 now defunct, the federal government appears increasingly reluctant or unable to police itself.
Legacy of the Arctic Frost Investigation
Launched in April 2022, the Arctic Frost probe was initiated prior to Trump’s 2024 campaign announcement. When Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith as special counsel later that year, it was presented as a measure to insulate the investigation from accusations of bias.
Trump was indicted in August 2023, accused of orchestrating a conspiracy to overturn the election and inciting the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. However, appeals delayed the case, and in a controversial ruling, the Supreme Court granted Trump presidential immunity for official acts, effectively ending the prosecution.
In a final report, Smith wrote that Trump had “inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence” and “knowingly spread an objectively false narrative about election fraud.” That report, though not criminally binding, painted a grim picture of presidential misconduct.
A Dangerous Precedent?
As federal oversight bodies shrink or vanish, watchdogs fear the U.S. is entering a dangerous new era of selective enforcement and unchecked power. Dismantling units like CR15 sends a clear message, critics argue: political corruption investigations may no longer be tolerated — not because they’re unimportant, but because they’re inconvenient.
While the FBI insists its commitment to anti-corruption work remains intact, the optics suggest otherwise. With Trump back in office, a growing number of legal experts and former prosecutors warn that these institutional rollbacks threaten to erode the very foundations of accountability and democratic integrity.
“The whole purpose of a public corruption unit is to ensure that no one is above the law,” said a former DOJ official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Shutting it down just when it was needed most? That tells you everything you need to know.”
