The FBI knew as early as 2009 that the Russian government used bribes, extortion, and a host of other tricks to drastically increase the Kremlin’s nuclear energy “footprint” throughout the United States; raising new questions over why the Obama administration approved the controversial “uranium one” deal.

According to Fox News, federal investigators used confidential informants to infiltrate the Russian nuclear industry, gaining access to financial documents and other sensitive information.

The material shows Russian-backed agents had “compromised” the American energy industry months before the Obama administration approved the Uranium One deal in 2010.

“They also obtained an eyewitness account — backed by documents — indicating Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to the U.S. designed to benefit former President Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation during the time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served on a government body that provided a favorable decision to Moscow,” writes the Hill.

“The Obama administration and the Clintons defended their actions at the time, insisting there was no evidence that any Russians or donors engaged in wrongdoing and there was no national security reason for any member of the committee to oppose the Uranium One deal,” adds the author.

The controversial uranium deal placed large quantities of American-owned nuclear material under Russian control.

President Trump routinely slams the agreement, questioning whether then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or her charity had a role to play in forging ahead with the agreement.