Washington – On November 8, 2026, former CBS News editor Zev Shalev published a detailed analysis on his Substack newsletter “Narrative” that raises serious questions about the involvement of Katie Wiles, the daughter of former White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, in lobbying activities linked to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska (RS). Shalev’s post is based on audio recordings from a meeting of Continental Strategy, a lobbying firm that represents the RS government, which were first released by the Bosnian portal Klix.ba at the end of October.

In the recordings, Katie Wiles is heard discussing the need to cleanse metadata from a document she had worked on so that her name would not appear. The same audio includes her remarks on the U.S.‑Russia diesel‑import agreement brokered by former President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, a message that was later echoed by RS Presidency member Željka Cvijanović in a public statement.

The recordings also contain excerpts of a speech delivered by Milorad Dodik, leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), which he read after his party’s victory in the general elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2026. Shalev points out that Katie Wiles visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in August, meeting RS Interior Minister Željko Budimir, further suggesting a direct connection between the U.S. citizen and the RS administration.

Shalev emphasizes that under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), any individual who engages in political activities on behalf of a foreign principal must file a registration statement. The law defines a “foreign principal” broadly, covering anyone who directs, controls, or finances political activity, public‑relations work, or lobbying. According to Shalev, Continental Strategy has already filed its FARA registration, but Katie Wiles is not listed, which, if confirmed, could expose her to civil and criminal penalties – up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The journalist notes that the lobbying firm must submit a supplemental FARA filing by February 2027. That filing will reveal whether Katie Wiles is included in the firm’s roster of foreign agents. In addition, Shalev warns that the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Representative Bill Keating, may request the full audio archive as part of a broader investigation into foreign influence operations targeting the Balkans.

Democratic members of Congress have already signaled their intent to examine the matter. In a statement released on Tuesday, a senior Democratic aide said the committee will “scrutinize any undisclosed lobbying that may affect U.S. policy toward Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.” The aide added that the investigation could lead to “questions for the White House, especially regarding whether senior officials were aware of Ms. Wiles’ activities.”

Susie Wiles, who left the Trump administration last week to join the former president’s political team, has not commented on the allegations. However, Shalev speculates that the White House press secretary Stephen Miller may be asked whether the chief of staff was informed about her daughter’s editing work on a speech for a foreign leader.

The revelations come amid heightened U.S. attention to foreign influence in the Balkans, a region where Russia, China and the European Union all vie for strategic partnerships. If the investigation confirms that Katie Wiles acted as an unregistered foreign agent, it would add a new layer of complexity to the already delicate political landscape in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where ethnic and entity divisions continue to shape governance.

For now, the focus remains on the forthcoming FARA filing and any potential congressional hearings. Both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of Congressional Ethics have been urged to monitor the case closely, ensuring that any violations of U.S. law are addressed promptly and transparently.

Sources (learn more):

klix.ba — https://klix.ba/vijesti/svijet/americki-novinar-o-vezama-katie-wiles-s-dodikom-demokrate-ce-to-istrazivati-bit-ce-pitanja-o-bih/261108070