WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FBI ordered its agents to stop discussing Hunter Biden’s laptop just hours after one of its own employees inadvertently confirmed its authenticity to Twitter, according to newly disclosed internal communications obtained by congressional investigators.
The revelation, reported by investigative journalist Catherine Herridge in a joint investigation with Michael Shellenberger, stems from internal FBI chat logs released to House committees. The messages show that senior officials moved swiftly to clamp down on internal discussion following the unintentional confirmation — just as the New York Post published its explosive October 14, 2020 report.
“I recall that when the question came up, an intelligence analyst assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division said something to the effect of, ‘Yes, the laptop is real’,” the FBI’s former Russia unit chief told House investigators during a closed-door transcribed interview, according to Herridge’s report.
Shortly after, an FBI lawyer from the Office of General Counsel reportedly intervened, directing the conversation to stop. “We will not comment further on this topic,” the lawyer said, according to the interview transcript.
Internal FBI chat logs provided to Congress, though heavily redacted, show messages labeled with “OGC AGC” — suggesting involvement from the Office of General Counsel and Associate General Counsel. One message to Special Agent Elvis Chan, the Bureau’s liaison with social media companies, referenced a “gag order” on discussing the laptop. In another message, a redacted employee instructed Chan: “please do not discuss biden matter.”
In one exchange, Chan asked, “actually what kind of case is the laptop thing? corruption? campaign financing?” Another agent responded, “CLOSE HOLD —” with the rest of the line redacted. “Oh crap,” Chan replied. “Ok. It ends here.”
Despite having a special task force to combat foreign election interference, the FBI never publicly confirmed the laptop was real or that it was the subject of a criminal probe. The chat logs suggest the Bureau was aware of an ongoing investigation involving felony tax charges, yet opted for silence while public speculation escalated.
BREAKING: FBI Imposed “Gag Order” About Hunter Biden Laptop After Employee Accidentally Confirmed Its Authenticity To Twitter
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) April 1, 2025
Newly released internal FBI chat messages reveal senior bureau officials actively shutting down discussion of the laptop’s credibility days before the… pic.twitter.com/PzaCUG6B7L
The FBI declined to comment when contacted by Herridge regarding the messages and employee conduct.
Initial report released Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) in a joint investigation with Michael Shellenberger (@Shellenberger).
Key Points
- FBI chat messages show internal gag order was issued after an employee confirmed Hunter Biden’s laptop to Twitter.
- Senior FBI officials instructed agents not to discuss the matter despite knowledge of an ongoing criminal investigation.
- The Bureau declined to comment on the internal communications revealed to House investigators.