Trump transition team puts hold on FBI background checks until bureau takeover: report

A new report indicates that members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team will not be undergoing background checks before his inauguration.

According to The Guardian, which cites “people familiar with the matter,” Trump and his team are effectively thumbing their collective noses at the FBI. The president-elect and his allies have long maintained that the FBI has it out for Trump since Russiagate, and refuse to engage with the process until the new incoming president reforms the bureau. This means that all transition team members will have “sweeping security clearances on the first day” but will not have access to classified briefings and intel until January 20.

“But delaying FBI vetting could also bring ancillary PR benefits for the Trump team if some political appointees run into problems during a background check, which could upend their Senate confirmation process, or if they struggle to obtain security clearances once in the White House,” The Guardian wrote, warning that the second Trump administration could get off to a bumpy start.

Brian Hughes, a Trump spokesperson, assured all in a statement that the transition team is working with the current administration for a smooth and peaceful transition of power.

“The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act. We will update you once a decision is made.”

Trump’s distrust in the FBI, and his previous difficulty in securing clearances for advisers like Jared Kushner and Boris Epshteyn, will likely lead to some big changes as he seeks to eradicate “Deep State” influence.

X users reacted to the move, with President Joe Biden and Democrats getting a hefty chunk of blame from outraged leftists:

Sierra Marlee

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