Dozens of FBI agents who worked to investigate the Jan.6, 2021, US Capitol attack and the now-dismissed classified documents case against President Donald Trump could lose their jobs as early as Friday, according to a CNN report.
That report coincides with other reporting of a “purge” underway to cull the heads of FBI field offices across the country.
CNN reported Friday that some of those expected to lose their jobs or be reassigned were told via email they were being dismissed due to their role in “prosecuting the President”:
Interim leaders at the Justice Department have spent the past week drawing up lists of people whose work at the bureau has earned disfavor with Trump for a variety of reasons. Agents and analysts have been warned by FBI leadership that they may be asked to resign or face termination.
Agents who worked the investigation of Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, and those who investigated the roughly 1,600 rioters charged or convicted connected to the violent US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, have been concerned they could face retribution for doing work they were assigned to do.
An email obtained by CNN that was sent to some bureau employees by James McHenry – the acting attorney general – read, “Given your significant role in prosecuting the President, I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the President’s agenda faithfully.”
CNN further reported six senior FBI officials had been told they had until Monday to retire early, resign, or be terminated.
Ken Dilanian with NBC News reported that a number of the FBI’s “top executives” were told they would be out of a job by Monday. Friday, Dilanian reported a “purge” was underway that could see the heads of up to 20 of the FBI’s 55 field offices relieved.
Dilanian reported, “The purge is bigger than first understood, we are told, and includes more than 20 heads of FBI field offices, including the ones in Miami and Washington, DC.”
The purge is bigger than first understood, we are told, and includes more than 20 heads of FBI field offices, including the ones in Miami and Washington, DC. https://t.co/p2ogRN8TJV
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) January 31, 2025
