Tucker Carlson says CIA monitors texts amid alleged FARA probe

Listen to this story:

0:00

Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.

Published :

4 hours ago|

World

Carlson says the CIA is surveilling his private messages to build a criminal case.
Allegations relate to a possible Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) referral, which he calls “ludicrous”.

Prominent commentator Tucker Carlson says that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is monitoring his private communications as part of a potential effort to frame him for a federal crime.

The investigation reportedly centers on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals acting on behalf of foreign entities to disclose their activities. Carlson dismissed the allegations, saying he has “only one loyalty and that’s the United States”, and emphasized that his work involves talking to global figures as part of journalistic duties.

Historical context of alleged targeting

Carlson pointed to a prior incident in 2021, when he said the National Security Agency (NSA) intercepted texts he exchanged with an American while trying to secure an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Those messages, he said, were leaked to the New York Times in an effort to sabotage the interview.

He described the surveillance as a tool often used to humiliate individuals publicly and justify expanded monitoring of Americans.

Concerns over wartime authoritarianism

Carlson framed the alleged surveillance within a broader pattern of authoritarian tendencies during conflict. He cited past cases involving Julian Assange and Edward Snowden to illustrate how the US intelligence community has historically punished those exposing domestic spying.

“Countries tend to become more authoritarian in wartime,” Carlson said. “There’s much less tolerance for dissent in the homeland. The irony is the US fights wars for freedom, but there’s always less of it here during war.”

Despite expressing confidence that no formal charges would follow, Carlson stressed the need for public vigilance regarding the actions of intelligence agencies. He warned that internal actors with “agendas and grudges” could continue to misuse power for ideological purposes, highlighting the risks of unchecked surveillance.