"May have compromised matters" / US Senate Democratic official letter to FBI director, requests details on investigations overseen by McGonigal, what is expected

The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee is seeking more information about the probe overseen by former New York FBI chief Charles McGonigal.

McGonigal, who was special agent in charge of counterintelligence in the FBI's New York office, was arrested last month for his alleged ties to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire who has been sanctioned by the United States and charged criminally last year for violating those sanctions.

"These allegations are extremely troubling and raise concerns about the potential impact this misconduct may have had on the FBI's counterintelligence matters and criminal investigations," Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, wrote to the FBI director. of Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

"As SAC Special Agent in Charge for the New York Office, Mr. McGonigal oversaw many sensitive counterintelligence investigations, including investigations involving individuals he is now accused of working to benefit."

Durbin points out that US officials have said Deripaska was a close associate of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and also on the US sanctions list.

Noting the indictment alleging that McGonigal concealed the receipt of $225,000 from a former Albanian intelligence agency employee, Durbin writes, “Both indictments involve alleged conduct that occurred while Mr. McGonigal served as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. New York office from 2016 to 2018 and after his retirement.”

Durbin wants to know if any investigations were affected and how many investigations he oversaw were potentially compromised.

Durbin is seeking a response by February 15.
"Mr. McGonigal's alleged misconduct may have affected these highly sensitive matters, including whether he compromised sensitive sources, methods and analysis," Durbin wrote.

"Whether his alleged misconduct materially affected the outcome of any investigation or further compromised our national security also remains unknown at this time."

Earlier, FBI Director Christopher Wray said McGonigal's actions did not represent his agency.

McGonigal, who retired from the FBI in 2018, has pleaded not guilty to the four-count indictment unsealed Monday in Manhattan.