In 2013, the Obama administration secretly monitored Fox News reporter James Rosen and identified him as a criminal co-conspirator in an investigation regarding classified information.
Posted by The Michael Berry Show, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support3 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 88%
The Michael Berry ShowSep 23, 2026
Multiple reliable sources confirm that the FBI's affidavit in a 2013-revealed search warrant described Fox News reporter James Rosen as a potential 'criminal co-conspirator' under an espionage law, and that the Justice Department secretly obtained his records and tracked his movements, though he was never charged.
The played clip relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.
What was said
… In 2013, to their credit, CBS News actually reported on what the Obama White House had done to a Fox News reporter. It was not a metaphor. Jane Crawford had that story. Documents released this week show the Obama administration secretly monitored a walk Washington journalist in seeking a search. The F b i called James Rosen a criminal co-conspirator, spiriter, even though he is charge with any crime. Jan Crawford is at the Justice Department. Good morning. Well, good morning, Nora. Good morning, Charlie. You know, I mean, these revelations have really just set up a firestorm of criticism from the left and the right. …
The Michael Berry Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Reuters (2013) reports that an FBI agent described Fox News reporter James Rosen as a potential criminal co-conspirator under an espionage law, which prompted an outcry over the seizure of records.[1]
Supports. CBS News (May 2013) reports that court documents show the Obama administration secretly monitored a Washington journalist, and that the FBI called Rosen a 'criminal co-conspirator' in seeking a search warrant even though he was not charged.[3]
Supports. FactCheck.org reports that the FBI agent's affidavit described Rosen as 'either as an aider, abettor and/or co-conspirator,' and that the Justice Department collected his phone and email records and tracked his State Department visits in an investigation of leaked classified North Korea information.[2]
Supports. ProPublica reports that the Justice Department seized Rosen's phone records and emails and tracked his movements, and that an FBI investigator wrote there was evidence he was a 'co-conspirator' in the Kim leak case.[4]
Context. Sources place the records collection and monitoring in 2010 (the investigation of 2009 reporting), with 2013 being the year the warrant and affidavit became public, so the claim's 'in 2013' dating reflects when the story broke rather than when the surveillance occurred.[2][5][6]
Context. A Justice Department letter reported by Denver Post says prosecutors never sought criminal charges against Rosen, which is consistent with the claim's framing that he was not charged with a crime.[7]
Sources
7 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 4 tier 2, 1 not rated
- 1Media editors say U.S. attorney general to change investigations ...reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Obama, Fox News and the Free Press - FactCheck.orgfactcheck.org · fact-checker · cited for: supports, context
- 3Fox News reporter secretly monitored by Obama administrationcbsnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4Charting Obama’s Crackdown on National Security Leakspropublica.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 55 things about the controversy surrounding AG Eric Holdercnn.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
- 6Fox Calls U.S. Surveillance Of Its Reporter 'Downright Chilling'npr.org · tier 2 · cited for: context
- 7Obama administration disputes charge attorney general lieddenverpost.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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