FBI tells multiple senior leaders to resign or be fired
Multiple senior officials in the FBI were told to resign or be fired, according to news reports, as President Donald Trump’s administration expands its purge of federal law enforcement agencies.
CNN reported at least six senior FBI leaders were given until Monday to retire, resign, or be fired, while the Washington Post confirmed multiple officials received the message on Thursday.
The officials reportedly included executive assistant directors and top agents in field offices, including some who oversee national security and criminal investigations and were promoted by former FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Wray resigned at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term. Trump had made apparent his desire to replace Wray, whom he had appointed during his previous term, with Kash Patel, a loyal political ally.
The Department of Justice on Monday said it fired more than a dozen lawyers who helped prosecute Trump in the classified documents and Jan. 6, 2021, cases that were dropped after he won reelection.
The messages on Thursday reportedly came in as Patel, the president’s pick to replace Wray, testified to senators during a confirmation hearing.
Thanks to President Trump, my #J6 charges were dismissed by the @TheJusticeDept in a court hearing this morning.
As a former @FBI agent, I’ve been shocked and disgusted by the actions of the FBI and DOJ personnel involved in my investigation and prosecution. They must all be… pic.twitter.com/vJdhpV0ZCv
— Jared Wise (@TheWiseJared) January 21, 2025
OMG. The FBI agents who raided Mar-a-Lago with LETHAL FORCE authorization were instructed to wear unmarked polo shirts and to keep their law enforcement equipment concealed
They were hoping to shoot members of Trump’s team pic.twitter.com/KXpPvp1xTd
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 21, 2024
Despite Trump’s campaign threats to take retribution and the firings at the DOJ earlier in the week, Patel told senators, “All FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.”
