Declassification of Certain Materials Related to the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane Investigation

On his final full day in office, President Trump directed the declassification of materials from the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation (the Russia probe), accepting FBI-proposed redactions from a January 17, 2021 submission. The Attorney General was directed to implement those redactions and return an appropriately redacted copy to the White House for release.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 6843

Impact dates

Jan 19, 2021
Attorney General to implement redactions and return redacted copy to White House

Key directives

Declassify remaining materials in the Crossfire Hurricane binder subject to FBI-proposed redactions
Attorney General to implement redactions proposed in FBI's January 17, 2021 submission
Attorney General to return appropriately redacted copy to White House
Attorney General to conduct review ensuring materials may be disclosed in accordance with applicable law
Attorney General authorized and directed to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Declassification determination made effective
Attorney General directed to implement redactions and return redacted copy to White House

Near term (90d)

Potential public release of redacted materials by White House

Long term

Historical record of Russia investigation documentation
Precedent for presidential declassification of politically sensitive investigative materials

Risks & tensions

Timing on final full day of presidency raises questions about institutional review completeness
FBI's 'continuing objection to any further declassification' noted but overruled on unredacted portions
Intelligence Community equities involved in redaction process create tension between transparency and sources/methods protection
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order protections create legal boundary on disclosure
Document does not specify actual public release deadline—only declassification determination and return to White House