Former Congressman Mike Rogers, a name reportedly under consideration to lead the FBI if President-elect Donald Trump dismisses Christopher Wray, has a complex and controversial track record. Rogers, a Michigan Republican who once chaired the House Intelligence Committee, has ties to key aspects of the Russiagate narrative, as well as a history of supporting intelligence surveillance initiatives that have drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates.
Rogers has long maintained that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, a claim central to the Russiagate narrative. He served on the advisory council for the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD), which launched the widely criticized Hamilton 68 Dashboard. The project purported to track Russian influence on social media but was later exposed as targeting many legitimate accounts belonging to Americans, Canadians, and others unaffiliated with Russian operations. Journalist Matt Taibbi labeled Hamilton 68 a “scam” in his Twitter Files reporting, revealing internal doubts even among Twitter executives about the dashboard’s accuracy.
. @MikeBenzCyber Breaks Down The Fight For FBI Director And Who Mike Rogers Really Is pic.twitter.com/mqdk7taEGx
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) November 19, 2024
Rogers’ ties to ASD, alongside figures such as Hillary Clinton advisor Laura Rosenberger and Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, have fueled concerns from Trump allies. Though Rogers did not accuse Trump of colluding with Russia, he actively supported the broader narrative of Russian interference, co-authoring articles and speaking on panels that amplified claims about Kremlin meddling.
Rogers’ stance on surveillance has raised further eyebrows. While he has criticized abuses under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the Patriot Act, his voting record tells a different story. He supported the Patriot Act’s original passage in 2001, voted to extend it in 2011, and backed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Critics argue these measures expanded government surveillance powers and compromised civil liberties.
10. The secret ingredient to Hamilton 68’s analytical method? A list: “Our analysis has linked 600 Twitter accounts to Russian influence activities online,” was how the site put it at launch. pic.twitter.com/8ipRLSfzOm
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) January 27, 2023
Rogers’ involvement with MITRE, a government-funded military-intelligence contractor, and his participation in the Aspen Cybersecurity Institute, a left-leaning think tank, have added to concerns about his alignment with establishment and intelligence community interests.
Despite his controversial record, Rogers has garnered praise from prominent GOP senators. Maine Senator Susan Collins called him a “terrific guy,” and Texas Senator John Cornyn expressed strong support. However, Rogers’ connections to Russiagate and surveillance policies could alienate segments of Trump’s base, particularly those critical of the intelligence community’s role in targeting the former president.
Trump FBI head aspirant, former congressman Mike Rogers, was co-founder of deep state “never Trump” group.
The Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD), founded in 2017, became a central player in efforts to tie President Donald Trump and his supporters to Russian interference in… pic.twitter.com/E4ZXmMRXAf
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 19, 2024
If appointed FBI Director, Rogers would inherit an agency under intense scrutiny. The FBI’s role in the Steele Dossier, FISA abuses, and politically charged investigations remains a sore point for Trump’s supporters. Rogers’ history of working alongside figures like James Clapper, whom he has praised, and his involvement in initiatives like Hamilton 68 may complicate his ability to bridge these divides.
Our intelligence community concluded that the Russians interfered in the 2016 election. We should expect them to attempt to do so again. That’s a clear and present danger to our democracy.
— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) November 12, 2017
