Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Joe DiGenova sworn in to lead "Russia hoax investigation" — On April 20, 2026, Joe DiGenova, an 81-year-old former Trump election lawyer and conspiracy theorist, was sworn in to oversee a multi-year "grand conspiracy" investigation against Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova stated that Trump "personally asked" him to lead the investigation and publicly sketched a grand conspiracy narrative framing investigations into Trump as a coordinated plot to deny him civil rights.

Supporting reports

• US Congress passes 10-day extension of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act section 702 — Both chambers of Congress voted on April 18 to pass a brief 10-day extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), a warrantless surveillance law, after Republican infighting blocked attempts at a longer reauthorization. The law allows national security agencies to collect texts and emails sent to and from foreigners outside the US without a warrant, with Americans' communications potentially swept up incidentally. A rare coalition of progressive Democrats and hardline Republicans opposed an unchanged extension, demanding a warrant requirement for Americans' communications. The House vote occurred after midnight following two failed procedural votes.
• Became Law: FISA Amendments Act Extension — Congress passed and the President signed legislation extending Title VII surveillance authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through April 30, 2026. The measure amends the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, preserving federal intelligence-gathering powers on foreign targets and their communications. The law became Public Law 119-84, authorizing continued bulk collection and monitoring frameworks.

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel denies excess drinking allegations and threatens lawsuit against The Atlantic — The Atlantic published a report on April 18, 2026, citing allegations from two dozen current and former officials that FBI Director Kash Patel drinks to excess, has been unreachable during his tenure, and has had security detail difficulty waking him. Patel denied the allegations and threatened to sue The Atlantic, posting on X that the story was "false" and a "hit piece." The report also noted concerns among officials about Patel's fitness to lead the agency and public safety implications.
• FBI Director Kash Patel portrayed as poor manager with alcohol issues and security concerns — An article in The Atlantic by Sarah Fitzpatrick portrayed FBI Director Kash Patel as a poor manager who is terrified of losing his job, whose overuse of alcohol, tendency to disappear, and purges of FBI agents who had investigated Trump endangers national security. Fitzpatrick noted that Patel has retained his position by using the FBI to target Trump's perceived enemies, but his focus on matters like whether FBI merchandise looks "fierce" has led officials to conclude "we don't have a real functioning FBI director."
• Atlantic reports concerns about FBI Director Kash Patel's conduct — The Atlantic published a report describing multiple current and former officials' accounts of FBI Director Kash Patel exhibiting a pattern of excessive drinking to the point of obvious intoxication, missed meetings, and periods of being unreachable during critical moments. In one instance, he reportedly told allies he had been fired over a routine IT issue, causing widespread confusion and calls to the White House. Morale inside the FBI is described as collapsing, and officials are raising national security concerns about the leadership. Patel denies everything and says he will sue.
• Atlantic publishes article on Kash Patel's management and conduct — Sarah Fitzpatrick published an article in The Atlantic on April 18 portraying FBI Director Kash Patel as a poor manager who fears losing his job, whose overuse of alcohol, tendency to disappear, and purges of FBI agents who investigated Trump endanger national security.
• Kash Patel denounces Atlantic drinking problem story; announces defamation lawsuit — FBI Director Kash Patel responded to an Atlantic article alleging he has a serious drinking problem affecting his work by posting on social media and appearing on Fox News, denying the allegations and vowing his lawyer will file a defamation lawsuit on Monday. The Atlantic reported multiple instances of Patel's erratic behavior, including a panic-driven "freak-out" when he believed he had been locked out of a work computer, and accounts from officials describing "obvious intoxication" at private clubs and difficulty waking him during work hours.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department appoints Trump loyalist Joe diGenova to lead probe into officials who investigated Trump — The Justice Department announced the appointment of Joe diGenova, a Trump loyalist and 2020 election denier, to lead a Florida-based federal probe into intelligence and law enforcement officials who investigated Trump. DiGenova previously worked with Rudy Giuliani on efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and to obtain damaging information on then-candidate Joe Biden from Ukrainian officials. The appointment signals the administration's intent to investigate and potentially prosecute those who conducted prior investigations into Trump.
• Joe DiGenova sworn in to lead "Russia hoax investigation" — On April 20, 2026, Joe DiGenova, an 81-year-old former Trump election lawyer and conspiracy theorist, was sworn in to oversee a multi-year "grand conspiracy" investigation against Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova stated that Trump "personally asked" him to lead the investigation and publicly sketched a grand conspiracy narrative framing investigations into Trump as a coordinated plot to deny him civil rights.