A Trump administration effort to gather documents from an old investigation had alarmed law enforcement officials, who feared it would be used to smear the Democratic lawmaker.

The urgent instructions at the Trump administration’s behest to gather and relay the files on Representative Eric Swalwell have alarmed some career law enforcement officials.

The urgent instructions at the Trump administration’s behest to gather and relay the files on Representative Eric Swalwell have alarmed some career law enforcement officials.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

Let’s hope it doesn’t take another Sept. 11 to snap the F.B.I.’s leadership into action.