# Opposition Research Report: Stephen Somma, [[FBI]] Counterintelligence Agent "Case Agent 1" **Main Takeaway:** [[Stephen Somma]], a senior counterintelligence agent in the [[FBI]]'s New York Field Office, played a pivotal role in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the Trump campaign, leading to multiple significant errors and omissions in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications. His conduct, while not resulting in criminal charges, exposed systemic lapses in the [[FBI]]'s oversight, raising questions about competence, accountability, and potential civil liability. ## Background and Career [[Stephen Somma]] joined the [[FBI]] as a counterintelligence investigator and rose to become a senior supervisory special agent in the New York Field Office. He specialized in Russian espionage matters and co-led the [[FBI]]'s Crossfire Hurricane "Case Agent 1" team, tasked with investigating [[Carter Page]]'s alleged ties to Russian intelligence. ## How Stephen Somma Became "Case Agent 1" [[Stephen Somma]]'s designation as "Case Agent 1" was not merely a bureaucratic label—it reflected his **pivotal and multifaceted role** in the [[Carter Page]] investigation that became central to the broader Crossfire Hurricane probe. The Inspector General's office used this anonymized designation to protect his identity while documenting his extensive involvement in the investigation's most consequential failures. ### Multiple Critical Roles Within Crossfire Hurricane Somma's designation as "Case Agent 1" stemmed from his unprecedented concentration of responsibilities within the investigation: **Primary Case File Owner** - **Opened the Carter Page Investigation**: Somma [opened the official Electronic Communication](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) (case file) on [[Carter Page]] in August 2016, making him the designated case agent of record - **Original Team Member**: He was among the first [[FBI]] agents assigned to Crossfire Hurricane after it officially opened on July 31, 2016 - **Primary Responsibility**: The Inspector General found that Somma and an unnamed Staff Operations Specialist ["were the original Crossfire Hurricane team members who had primary responsibility"](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) over the [[Carter Page]] investigation **Stefan Halper Handler** - **Long-term Relationship**: Somma had been [[Stefan Halper]]'s [[FBI]] handler since 2011, [predating Crossfire Hurricane by five years](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) - **Professional Connection**: Somma even spoke at Halper's Cambridge Intelligence Seminars in November 2011, delivering a presentation titled ["The FBI and Russian illegals 2010"](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) - **Operational Control**: As Halper's handler, Somma directed the informant's activities against Trump campaign associates [[Carter Page]], [[George Papadopoulos]], and [[Sam Clovis]] ## Role in Crossfire Hurricane and FISA Abuses - **Primary Responsibility for FISA Applications:** The [[DOJ]] Inspector General's December 2019 report found Somma ["primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions"](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) in at least four FISA warrant applications targeting [[Carter Page]]. - **Initial Proponent**: On [[August 15, 2016]], Somma was the first to propose applying for a FISA warrant against Page, writing that there was a ["pretty solid basis"](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) to believe Page was a Russian agent. - **Reliance on Unverified Steele Dossier:** After the Steele dossier arrived in September 2016, Somma prepared the FISA request form that ["drew almost entirely from Steele's reporting"](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/), without disclosing key exculpatory or contradictory information from Page or other sources. - **Woods File Responsibility**: He was tasked with compiling and maintaining the Woods File—the documentation supporting factual claims in FISA applications—which Horowitz found ["riddled with errors and omissions"](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation). - **Omission of Exculpatory Evidence:** He failed to include [[Carter Page]]'s denials, [[CIA]] records of Page's prior cooperation, and informant [[Stefan Halper]]'s notes exculpating Page from [alleged contacts with Russian operatives](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/). - **Misrepresentation to OI Attorneys:** Somma provided summaries that omitted critical contradictions and misinformed Office of Intelligence attorneys, [compromising the integrity of FISA submissions](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/). - **"Undercover" Name Usage:** [[Carter Page]]'s lawsuit alleges Somma [conducted five interviews with Carter Page](https://nypost.com/2020/12/01/carter-page-fbi-agent-used-fake-name-during-russia-probe/) in March 2017, totaling approximately ten hours, using the alias "Steve Holt"—a potential breach of protocol and disclosure requirements. - **Steele Source Interview**: He participated in the January 2017 interview of [[Christopher Steele]]'s Primary Sub-Source, whose statements [severely undermined the dossier's credibility](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation). ### The Concentration of Authority and Failure What made Somma "Case Agent 1" was not just his involvement, but his **concentration of decision-making authority** across multiple critical functions: **Information Gatekeeper** - **Controlled Information Flow**: Somma served as the primary conduit between various intelligence sources and the Department of Justice Office of Intelligence attorneys who [drafted FISA applications](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) - **Summary Authority**: Rather than providing raw intelligence, Somma provided "summaries" to [[DOJ]] attorneys that consistently [omitted exculpatory evidence](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) - **Selective Disclosure**: He had discretionary authority over what information to include or exclude from FISA applications and [supporting documentation](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) **Specific Exculpatory Evidence Suppression** - **CIA Cooperation**: [Misrepresented Page's longstanding cooperation](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) with the [[CIA]] as occurring "outside scope" when it actually overlapped with alleged Russian contacts - **Halper Recordings**: Omitted Page's recorded denials to Halper about meeting Russians mentioned in the [Steele dossier](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) - **Page's Own Statements**: Failed to include Page's direct written denials to [[FBI]] Director [[James Comey]] - **Primary Sub-Source**: Concealed that Steele's main source contradicted key dossier allegations and described claims as ["rumor and speculation"](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) - **Steele's Reliability**: Withheld information that Steele described one of his sources as a ["boaster" and "embellisher"](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) - **State Department Warnings**: Ignored [[Kathleen Kavalec]]'s notes raising red flags about Steele's credibility and [factual errors](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) ## Durham and Mueller Investigation Involvement ### Durham Investigation [[Stephen Somma]] did **not** appear to be directly interviewed by Special Counsel [[John Durham]] for his criminal investigation. While Durham's report extensively references the Inspector General [[Michael Horowitz]]'s findings about "Case Agent 1" (Somma), there is no evidence that [Durham's team conducted a formal interview](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/15/durham-report-takeaways-00097060) with Somma. This is significant because Durham interviewed many other key figures including former [[CIA]] Director [[John Brennan]] in August 2020, [[Hillary Clinton]] in May 2022, and Clinton campaign officials [[Jake Sullivan]] and [[John Podesta]]. The absence of a Somma interview is notable, especially given his central role in the FISA abuses that Durham was investigating. Durham's report references Somma primarily through the lens of the Horowitz Inspector General findings, suggesting Durham relied on existing documentation rather than [conducting new interviews with this key figure](https://www.racket.news/p/john-durham-is-testifying-today-five). ### Mueller Investigation [[Stephen Somma]] also does **not** appear in the Mueller report or the extensive list of witnesses interviewed by Mueller's team. The Mueller investigation documented [over 1,000 witness interviews totaling 5,213 pages](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/03/politics/mueller-investigation-witnesses-interviewed-list), with 119 named individuals as witnesses. Despite Somma's role as [[Stefan Halper]]'s [[FBI]] handler and his central involvement in the [[Carter Page]] investigation that Mueller inherited, there is no record of Mueller's team interviewing him directly. ## Public Exposure and Media Coverage - **Identity Leak:** The New York Times identified ["Case Agent 1" as Stephen Somma](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/us/politics/fisa-surveillance-fbi.html) in February 2020, exposing him to public scrutiny and political pressure. - **Political Backlash:** Republican lawmakers, including Senate Judiciary Chairman [[Lindsey Graham]], have demanded [Somma's participation in hearings](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/graham-says-fbi-denying-requests-to-interview-agents-who-talked-to-steeles-subsource/) on FISA court abuses and the Crossfire Hurricane origins. - **Ambiguous Testimony Status:** Despite calls by Special Counsel [[John Durham]] to interview Somma, his public testimony remains unconfirmed, fueling [speculation of protective measures](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stefan-halper-russiagate-trump-russia-hiding-why) within the [[FBI]]. ## Current FBI Employment Status [[Stephen Somma]]'s current employment status with the [[FBI]] is **unclear** based on available public information. Key facts: - **ZoomInfo Profile**: Shows him [listed as an FBI agent](https://www.zoominfo.com/p/Stephen-Somma/1558105062) with an @fbi.gov email address, suggesting he may still be employed as of their last update - **No Public Termination Announcement**: Unlike other [[FBI]] personnel involved in Crossfire Hurricane controversies, there has been no public announcement of Somma's termination or disciplinary action - **Different Person**: The LinkedIn profile for "Steve Somma" working at [Regions Bank appears to be a different individual](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensomma) entirely, based on the career timeline and educational background - **Recent Trump Administration Purges**: With the new Trump administration [ordering senior FBI leaders to resign](https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/30/politics/senior-fbi-leaders-demoted-wray) or be fired by [[February 3, 2025]], Somma's status may be affected, though he would not be at the senior executive level targeted in these recent actions ## Opposition Research Angles - **Catastrophic Concentration of Authority**: By consolidating multiple critical functions in one agent, the [[FBI]] created a system where one person's failures—whether through incompetence or bias—could [compromise an entire counterintelligence operation](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation). - **Single Point of Failure**: Somma's role as "Case Agent 1" represents a **catastrophic concentration of authority** without adequate oversight, creating vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit. - **Accountability Vacuum**: The "Case Agent 1" designation itself reflects the [[FBI]]'s attempt to obscure individual responsibility while documenting systemic failures. - **Institutional Accountability:** Somma's actions illustrate systemic deficiencies in internal checks, oversight, and the FISA application process. - **Civil Litigation Exposure:** [[Carter Page]]'s Second Amended Complaint names Somma as a defendant, alleging constitutional and FISA violations, potentially exposing him to [damages under Bivens and the Federal Tort Claims Act](https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2025/05/23-5038-2117198.pdf). ## Legal Analysis of Potential Criminal and Professional Liability - **Criminal Liability:** No criminal charges have been filed against Somma. Inspector General [[Michael Horowitz]] found no evidence of political bias or intentional misconduct, and [no DOJ referrals for prosecution](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/) have been made. - **Disciplinary Review:** The [[FBI]]'s Office of Professional Responsibility reportedly opened a disciplinary review, but outcomes remain undisclosed. He could face internal sanctions, suspension, or termination for [gross negligence](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2598960/fbis-case-agent-1-stephen-somma-primarily-responsible-for-fisa-failures/). - **Civil Penalties:** Somma is a named defendant in [[Carter Page]]'s multi-count lawsuit alleging FISA abuses, unlawful surveillance, and Privacy Act violations. If found liable, he could owe damages individually under Bivens and contribute to [agency liability under the FTCA](https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2025/05/23-5038-2117198.pdf). However, the case was ultimately [dismissed on procedural grounds](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/801194/judge-dismisses-carter-pages-fisa-abuse-lawsuit-against-james-comey-and-others/). - **Professional Repercussions:** While not a licensed attorney, Somma's credibility and career advancement within federal law enforcement are jeopardized. Future security clearance renewals and supervisory roles may be at risk. - **FISA Court Restrictions:** The FISA court [banned agents who "botched"](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/us/politics/fisa-court-fbi-surveillance.html) the [[Carter Page]] surveillance from future FISA proceedings. ## Conclusion The fact that neither [[John Durham]] nor [[Robert Mueller]] interviewed Somma directly, despite his central role in the events both were investigating, raises questions about the thoroughness of both investigations and whether key witnesses were protected from scrutiny. The "Case Agent 1" designation became synonymous with the [**most significant investigative failures**](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-case-agent-1-fbi-agent-behind-most-significant-errors-trump-russia-investigation) in modern [[FBI]] history, representing how concentrated authority without accountability can undermine the rule of law and constitutional protections against unreasonable government surveillance. While Somma has not faced criminal charges, his role in the FISA abuses that undermined public confidence in federal law enforcement makes him a significant figure in ongoing debates about [[FBI]] accountability and reform. ## [[Open Questions]] - Why did [[Robert Mueller]] fail to interview [[Stephen Somma]], FBI Agent who opened the [[Carter Page]] FISA warrant and ran [[Stephen Halper]]? - Why did [[John Durham]] fail to interview [[Stephen Somma]], FBI Agent who opened the C[[arter Page]] FISA warrant and ran [[Stephen Halper]]? - Why did OIG [[Michael Horowitz]] cover up for [[Stephen Somma]], labeling "Case Agent 1" in his report despite his massive involvement in the Russia Collusion Hoax? - Is [[Stephen Somma]] still working at the [[FBI]] under the Trump Administration?