Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley magnate renowned for his association with Donald Trump, has been unveiled as having another hidden role - an FBI informant, in a exclusive piece with Buisness Insider.
Thiel, since the summer of 2021, has secretly been providing information as a "confidential human source" to the FBI, aiding their investigations into political corruption and foreign influence.
The introduction to the FBI was facilitated by Charles Johnson, a notable figure from the far-right political arena, who himself claims to have been an informant.
Johnson states that Thiel’s reports predominantly revolved around foreign entities attempting to infiltrate Silicon Valley's influential circles.
Thiel's relationship with the FBI might seem surprising given his close ties to Trump and the MAGA movement, which has often criticized federal institutions like the FBI.
Thiels secret code name and multiple citizenships
He was given a code name and an internal serial number to monitor his reports about foreign entities and Silicon Valley's inner workings. The data he submitted was then cross-referenced against other sources by the agency.
When approached for a comment on his FBI association, Thiel remained silent. Furthermore, his spokesperson ceased communications upon learning that Insider was investigating Thiel's FBI ties.
The FBI's press office and attorney Scott Horton, representing Johnathan Buma, also refrained from commenting.
Interestingly, Thiel holds citizenships in Germany, the US, and New Zealand, and is rumored to be obtaining a Maltese passport. He was a notable supporter of Trump in 2016, contributing $1.25 million to his campaign. Following Trump's election, Thiel joined his transition team.
An informant named Johnson shared with Insider that he believes Thiel's FBI reports mostly concerned foreign contacts and efforts by other countries to infiltrate Silicon Valley.
However, Thiel was reportedly instructed by the FBI not to disclose his interactions with US political figures, including Donald Trump.
Backing FBI Critics While Profiting from Government Contracts
Despite his association with the FBI, Thiel has financially backed politicians who have publicly criticized the bureau, such as J.D. Vance and Blake Masters. Vance, for example, received $15 million from Thiel and made several unfounded allegations against the FBI.
Masters, who benefited from a $20 million Thiel donation, has promoted the conspiracy theory that the FBI instigated the January 6, 2021 insurrection. He has also criticized the agency's search at Mar-a-Lago.
It's worth noting that some of Thiel's ventures heavily depend on the FBI and other governmental bodies. He owns a 10% share in Palantir, a data firm with contracts exceeding a billion dollars with entities such as the Pentagon, the CIA, and the FBI.
A recent $250 million deal with the US Army further underscores Palantir's role as a major government service provider.
Some insiders argue that this association was Thiel's attempt to distance himself from the Trump narrative, while still maintaining his influence in key political and tech circles.
It remains to be seen what further implications this revelation might bring for Thiel and his vast empire spanning politics and technology.
