Published on December 17, 2023, 1:06 am

Former FBI New York field office counterintelligence lead, Charles McGonigal, has been handed down a prison sentence exceeding four years following his involvement with Russia. The sentencing comes after his confession of guilt in August for conspiracy to contravene US sanctions and conducting money laundering activities on behalf of Oleg Deripaska, a Russian businessman known for his strong connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

McGonigal’s 22-year tenure with the FBI was tarnished by the conviction as he now faces 50 months in prison, marginally less than the maximum five-year term. Judge Jennifer Rearden, who ruled in this case, has instructed McGonigal to commence his sentence from February 26.

Judge Rearden stated that McGonigale “repeatedly flouted and manipulated” sanctions crucial for the national security interests of the United States. The gravity of these offenses and respect for law enforcement necessitate significant imprisonment time. However, she acknowledged that these violations did not completely eliminate recognition for his distinguished service record and “profoundly important contributions” to America.

In court reports, it emerges that McGonigal displayed deep remorse over his actions. He expressed how difficult it was dealing with betraying the FBI—an organization he greatly revered—and bringing shame upon himself.

However, mainstream media narratives fail to highlight an essential aspect: His consequential role in the Trump-Russia collusion investigation. During his tenure at FBI, McGonigal was actively involved in probing Russian oligarchs like Deripaska and played a significant part in instigating Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation into accusations that Trump’s campaign had colluded with Russians during the 2016 election.

Previously involved with investigations during his stint as chief of cybercrimes at FBI headquarters in Washington DC., McGonigal was amongst the first officials aware of allegations pertaining George Papadopoulos—Trump’s 2016 campaign advisor—knowing that the Russians were armed with damaging political information against Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton. These allegations served as a foundation for the FBI launching “Crossfire Hurricane”—a comprehensive investigation testing whether any synchronization took place, either unknowingly or intentionally, between Trump’s officials and Russia’s plot to meddle with the 2016 US Presidential Elections.

Fascinatingly, though McGonigal’s involvement in investigating supposed Russian collusion with Trump is notable, he was found breaching his obligations by colluding with Russia himself after exiting his federal role.

Investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson revealed in an X/Twitter post that numerous Department of Justice hirings and dismissals related to a major operation against Donald Trump occurred in 2016 which included personnel changes revolving around McGonigal.

Whether these latest revelations will impact viewer perception of trusted news resources remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the necessity to examine real news from a Christian worldview, filtering out potential media bias becomes more imperative than ever to comprehend nuanced occurrences in our complex world.