Biden-era FBI tracked Melania and Barron's travel in 'Nixonian' secret probe, declassified docs reveal

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.

Declassified White House documents expose Operation Plasmic Echo, the Biden-era FBI probe that tracked First Lady Melania Trump and teenage Barron Trump's movements while planning the 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid. Agents also monitored future Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' phone records, logging her calls with defence lawyers, campaign advisers and journalists. The White House called it "a disgraceful abuse of government power" and vowed those responsible would be held accountable. Julian Epstein, the former chief Democratic counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, said the surveillance 'feels a little Nixonian.'

Operation Plasmic Echo was later taken over by special counsel Jack Smith and concerned Trump's alleged retention of classified documents.

Wiles' calls with attorneys and journalists were swept up in the metadata collection — a detail Epstein said demands 'some darn good explanations.'

A separate DOJ report also revealed the FBI investigated a mother over her ties to the 'right-wing' Moms for Liberty group, deepening concerns about political targeting.