FBI agent accused of protecting Hunter Biden from laptop probe was previously accused of misconduct

The former FBI special agent who allegedly suppressed negative information about Hunter Biden was also accused of flirting with a witness and concealing her sexual relationship with one of his agents when he was the lead investigator in a high-profile political corruption case that ended a congressman’s career.

Today, Timothy Thibault, 55, is at the center of an escalating scandal after whistleblowers accused him of improper conduct during the investigation into Hunter Biden’s laptop after it was dropped off at a computer repair store in Delaware.

As one of 13 special agents tasked with investigating the computer contents, Thibault is alleged to have miscategorized damaging evidence as ‘disinformation’ and attempted to ‘close a stream’ of derogatory information in the lead up to the 2020 elections.

Now, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal that this is not the first time Thibault’s professional conduct has been called into serious question. 

In 2009, he was accused of an ‘utter failure’ to maintain appropriate boundaries in an investigation and his behavior was considered so egregious that defense attorneys in a landmark corruption case used it as grounds to push for a new trial.

DailyMail.com can now reveal Thibault was previously accused of misconduct when he was the lead investigator in the 2009 corruption case involving Louisiana Democratic Congressman William Jefferson (pictured) who was ultimately convicted 

Jefferson’s defense team accused Thibault of failing to disclose the fact that Special Agent John Guandolo (pictured) was having a sexual relationship with a government witness involved in the case

According to documents, Guandolo – who later resigned – was having a sexual relationship with cooperating witness Lori Mody, who Thibault was also accused of ‘flirting’ with during the investigation 

Thibault was the lead agent in an investigation that led to Louisiana Democratic Congressman William Jefferson being charged on 16 counts of federal bribery and corruption. He was ultimately found guilty of 11 and sentenced to 13 years in federal prison. He ended up serving a little over five and a half years. 

According to formerly sealed court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Jefferson’s defense team was not informed that one of Thibault’s agents was having a sexual relationship with a cooperating witness until three weeks after the trial started, even though the agency was ‘on notice’ of the matter for 18 months.

Thibault and the government informed the court that Special Agent John Guandolo was having an affair with witness Lori Mody on June 8, 2009. The trial began June 9.

Guandolo was posing as Mody’s driver and security while she undertook covert recordings of conversations with the congressman.

Thibault claimed that he had only learned of the relationship three days earlier on June 5.

Yet according to the court filings, Guandolo resigned from the FBI in December 2008 and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding that resignation was ongoing.

In their motion for a new trial the defense points out: ‘Prior to Guandolo’s resignation, the FBI was in possession of a document indicating that Guandolo ‘had had an intimate relationship with a confidential source that he thought could damage an investigation.’

In addition, the document notes: ‘The record of Agent Thibault’s interactions with Mody contains considerable evidence of mutual flirtation, and he may well have been aware of the risk that her interactions with others were inappropriate as well.’

Thibault’s integrity and credibility are once again under fire after agency whistleblowers shed light on an alleged pattern of political bias from multiple high-ranking officials. He is pictured near his Virginia home after he stepped down 

Thibault has remained hunkered down at his Virginia home since his retirement last month after which he was reportedly ‘marched’ out of the bureau’s Washington field office

Exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com captured an odd chain of events last week as an apparently on-edge Thibault was dropped back at his vehicle by an unknown man late Wednesday night

The jury never learned about the relationship as neither the agent nor the witness was called to testify, preventing the defense team from raising the issues on cross examination and from using it to impeach Thibault’s credibility as they would likely have done. 

According to the defense: ‘Throughout the trial, Agent Thibault sat at counsel table next to the jury as the human embodiment of the United States. 

‘His presence in the courtroom was more than merely symbolic: he personally orchestrated the events involving Lori Mody…and he played a significant role in shaping the testimony of all of the witnesses who testified pursuant to plea bargains or immunity deals. 

‘The defense argued that it was part of the government’s strategy to ‘surround Agent Thibault with an aura of competence and adherence to protocol.’

In fact, they argued, he failed ‘to exercise appropriate supervision and control,’ ‘could or should’ have known about her affair with Guandolo and – by his own admission – failed to maintain clear boundaries in his own communications with Mody.

In their ultimately unsuccessful effort to get a new trial the defense stated: ‘The defense never had the opportunity to explore the agent’s failure to prevent the relationship that was going on right under his nose. 

‘Nor did the defense have the opportunity to explore whether Agent Thibault knew or should have known about the intimate relationship. So, the jury never had a full and fair opportunity to assess Agent Thibault’s core competence which was directly relevant to his credibility.’

Thibault was one of 13 assistant special agents assigned to investigate the Hunter Biden laptop saga and was removed from the supervisory role by FBI Director Christopher Wray earlier this month

President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden left church in South Carolina earlier this month. The  White House has generally avoided discussing the laptop story and investigation and has deferred to the Department of Justice when asked 

Thibault’s integrity and credibility are once again under fire after his alleged behavior was singled out by Senate Judiciary ranking member Republican Chuck Grassley earlier this year. 

FBI Director Christopher Wray has himself admitted that certain social media posts made by Thibault were ‘deeply troubling.’ 

In one, the ex-special agent retweeted a comment describing President Donald Trump as ‘a psychologically broken, embittered and deeply unhappy man.’

On July 18, Grassley wrote to Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland imploring them to act on allegations of political bias within the FBI and stating: ‘As you are aware, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Thibault is not the only politically biased FBI agent at the Washington Field Office.’ 

Republican Senator Ron Johnson, Ranking Member on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has lent his voice to the uproar stating that the whistleblower allegations which were shared with Congress indicate a level of ‘corruption’ within the FBI and Department of Justice that needs to be ‘exposed.’ 

Thibault has not commented on the scandal though his lawyers have insisted he will be ‘fully exonerated.’

They have also pointed out that Thibault, who retired shortly after Grassley’s allegations became public, ‘was not fired, not forced to retire and not asked to retire.’

Former FBI agent Timothy Thibault and his daughter Cassidy

Thibault Timothy with daughter Cassidy, son Cole, ex-wife Lisa, her partner Lan Pham, and Cassidy’s boyfriend in a social media photo

In their ultimately failed motion for a new trial, Jefferson’s defense team claimed the FBI was aware of the relationship long before they disclosed it in court

Thibault has remained, for the most part, hunkered down at his Virginia home since his retirement last month after which he was reportedly ‘marched’ out of the bureau’s Washington field office.

Exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com captured an odd chain of events last week as an apparently on-edge Thibault was dropped back at his vehicle by an unknown man late Wednesday night.

The former special agent’s car had left his car several hours earlier having parked it at the back of a large shopping and restaurant complex lot not far from his home.

Earlier the divorced father-of-two sifted through his mail, reading and re-reading the contents of several envelopes.

He did not respond to DailyMail.com’s requests for comment.