The FBI is now confirming that hundreds of pages of documents related to the 2016 murder of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich were discovered in a previously hidden room at FBI headquarters, mixed among classified files marked for destruction in burn bags.
Attorney Forces FBI Admission After Nine Years
Attorney Ty Clevenger, who has pursued Seth Rich records through Freedom of Information Act litigation since 2017, announced the stunning development on social media. A government attorney informed him that confirmation would soon arrive regarding several hundred pages of Seth Rich documents found in an unmapped, sealed area within the J. Edgar Hoover Building’s Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. The discovery comes after FBI Director Kash Patel’s team located the hidden room in July 2025, according to Fox News Digital reporting.
The government has notified the attorney representing Seth Rich’s case that several hundred pages of documents related to Seth Rich, previously claimed not to exist, were found in a previously hidden room at FBI headquarters, according to Ty Clevenger.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) July 7, 2026
The files were reportedly stored alongside thousands of pages linked to the controversial 2016 Crossfire Hurricane investigation, all designated for destruction. Clevenger emphasized he has not yet received the actual documents and does not know if the FBI will release any of the newly discovered pages. However, the mere confirmation that these files existed in a secret location raises serious questions about what senior FBI officials sought to conceal.
From Zero Records To Thousands Of Pages
The FBI originally told Clevenger in 2017 that it possessed zero records about Seth Rich because the bureau was not involved in investigating his death. Officials characterized the July 2016 shooting as a botched robbery handled exclusively by Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police. Through years of persistent legal pressure and court-ordered disclosures, the FBI has gradually admitted to holding several thousand pages of documents about Rich, including his work laptop, an image of his personal laptop, and an additional DVD.
Despite multiple court orders mandating transparency, the FBI continues fighting document releases. On June 15, 2026, Clevenger filed another motion detailing how the bureau violates court orders by withholding records. The attorney noted that no members of Congress have been willing to address the Seth Rich case, calling it the most radioactive topic he has encountered in his legal career.
Questions About Transparency And Accountability
Clevenger questioned why the FBI would now acknowledge that Seth Rich records were hidden in the secret SCIF room while simultaneously continuing to resist transparency on other fronts. He speculated that a grand jury investigation in Miami led by attorney Joe DiGenova might be applying pressure on Washington officials. The attorney concluded his statement by noting he is not suicidal and feels great, a darkly humorous reference to the sensitive nature of his investigative work. The discovery adds another layer to ongoing questions about what federal agencies knew regarding Rich’s unsolved murder.