A recently declassified FBI document reveals that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team used a hidden classification system to conceal documents from other investigators—raising serious questions about the integrity of the Russia collusion investigation and the transparency of the Justice Department.
According to the FBI’s internal “Electronic Communication” (EC), dated September 2019 and declassified by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the bureau’s Sentinel case management system includes a designation called “Prohibited Access.” This setting not only restricts documents from being opened by other agents, but also makes them invisible in keyword searches—creating the illusion that no such records exist.
Mueller’s team reportedly used “Prohibited Access” to shield Trump/Russia-collusion case files, making them undetectable to other FBI agents, including those investigating whether Fusion GPS contractor Nellie Ohr lied to Congress. The EC indicates that on May 3, 2019, relevant documents about Ohr were inaccessible due to this restricted status, undermining the ability of investigators to pursue potential criminal misconduct.
This revelation has raised legal and constitutional alarms. The concealment of potentially exculpatory or impeachment evidence may violate the government’s obligations in both criminal and civil cases. It also calls into question whether Special Counsel John Durham, internal watchdogs, and congressional oversight committees received full access to the relevant information.