Donald Trump’s transition team has finally agreed to let the FBI conduct background checks on some of his appointees, ending a period in which Trump used a private company to perform these checks. The move came after months of resistance, with Trump initially refusing to sign an agreement that would allow the FBI to handle the critical task.
The transition team signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice on Tuesday, allowing the FBI to conduct the background checks, as reported by legal analyst Aaron Parnas on Bluesky. Background checks are crucial in assessing the history and integrity of potential staffers or nominees.
These checks not only examine past actions but also evaluate whether an appointee could be vulnerable to foreign manipulation, including the potential for blackmail. This decision follows past controversies surrounding Trump’s appointees. In 2019, NBC News reported that Jared Kushner, a top adviser to Trump and his son-in-law, did not pass his FBI background check twice.
BREAKING: Donald Trump's transition team has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice to allow for FBI background checks of transition officials and nominees.
— Aaron Parnas (@aaronparnas.bsky.social) December 4, 2024 at 2:18 AM
The issues centered on Kushner’s business dealings and foreign contacts, raising concerns about national security. According to sources, Kushner’s background check was one of at least 30 cases in which Carl Kline, a former Pentagon official, overruled career security experts and approved top-secret clearances for incoming Trump officials, despite unfavorable information.
“Kushner’s was one of at least 30 cases in which [former Pentagon official Carl] Kline overruled career security experts and approved a top-secret clearance for incoming Trump officials despite unfavorable information,” two sources told NBC at the time. This controversy raised serious questions about the integrity of the background check process under the Trump administration.
By signing the memorandum with the Department of Justice, the Trump transition team has aligned itself with standard procedures for vetting presidential appointees, ensuring that the FBI is involved in assessing the security risks posed by key figures in the incoming administration.