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The Central Intelligence Agency has ignored my repeated requests for comment on allegations made by journalist Tucker Carlson that the agency spied on his private communications and is preparing a criminal referral against him to the Department of Justice.
In a video posted to social media over the weekend, Carlson claimed the CIA had accessed his text messages with individuals in Iran—communications he described as routine journalistic outreach conducted before recent U.S.-related military actions involving Iran. He alleged the agency is using those messages to build a case accusing him of acting as an unregistered foreign agent, potentially under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Tucker Carlson
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“They read my texts… What’s the crime? Talking to people in Iran before the war,” Carlson stated. “The CIA is preparing some kind of criminal referral against me. I’m not an agent of a foreign power — my loyalty is to the United States.
Carlson further suggested the referral could serve as justification for surveillance warrants, framing the effort as an attempt to “frame” him amid his public criticism of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel and the ongoing tensions with Iran.
Neither the CIA nor the Department of Justice has publicly confirmed or denied the existence of any investigation or referral. Multiple news outlets reporting on Carlson’s statements noted that it remains unclear whether such a probe actually exists or if the claims are intended to preempt potential scrutiny.