Do These Internet Searches Reveal What’s Really Going On?

Recent internet search trends in the Washington, D.C., metro area have raised eyebrows, reflecting potential concern among political and bureaucratic circles as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump and Elon Musk intensifies efforts to eliminate corruption within non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and federal agencies.

Earlier this week, search interest in terms like “Criminal Defense Lawyer” and “RICO Laws” surged, gaining traction on social media.

DC Internet Searches For “Criminal Defense Lawyer” & “RICO Law” Erupt As DOGE Drains Swamp https://t.co/4ytzi4YcgV

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) February 13, 2025

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The spike coincided with DOGE’s ongoing work to cut USAID’s financial backing of NGOs accused of propping up a shadow government, along with a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce by tens of thousands.

New search trends emerging at the end of the week suggest even greater levels of concern among certain Washington elites.

WikiLeaks noted in a post on X that searches for financial terms such as “Swiss bank,” “offshore bank,” “wire money,” and “IBAN” have spiked in the D.C. area, indicating potential interest in moving funds abroad.

Washington DC searches soar for “Swiss bank” (yellow), “offshore bank” (green), “wire money” (red) and “IBAN” (blue) pic.twitter.com/OBEg0hW8g0

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 13, 2025

At the same time, searches for data-erasing terms like “wipe” and “erase” have climbed significantly. In particular, “wipe hard drive” has seen a dramatic increase, raising questions about whether individuals are attempting to cover their tracks.

Washington DC searches soar for “wipe” (blue) and “erase” (red) according to Google trends data. pic.twitter.com/WTbK1C1zxy

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 14, 2025

Additionally, search traffic for “lawyer” has jumped, along with a sharp rise in queries for “statute of limitations.”

Washington DC searches for “lawyer’ have increased 400% (data from Google trends) pic.twitter.com/CxeSJ0VKgG

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 13, 2025

Washington DC searches for “statute of limitations” soar (data from Google trends) pic.twitter.com/OkNKHEQsXa

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 14, 2025

While search trends alone do not confirm wrongdoing, the timing of these spikes aligns with DOGE’s increasingly aggressive approach to investigating government corruption.

The latest search trends come as DOGE, which has been tasked with reforming federal agencies and identifying misuse of taxpayer funds, escalates its operations.

“Gold Bars Off The Titanic”: After Trump Victory, Biden EPA Scrambled To Funnel $20 Billion Taxpayer Funds Into ‘Green’ NGOs https://t.co/I9JuIFOQhr

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) February 13, 2025

With significant reductions already underway in federal staffing and funding, officials are reportedly paying close attention to financial transactions—particularly large outbound ACH transfers exceeding $1 million.

Edward Coristine, listed as a senior adviser at the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology and known for his role in DOGE’s investigative efforts, is among those monitoring financial movements.

As these developments unfold, the surge in legal and financial search terms suggests that some in Washington may be growing increasingly concerned about potential accountability measures on the horizon.

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