Trump Administration Dismisses Prosecutors, Seeks to Remove FBI Agents Involved in January 6th Investigations
WASHINGTON— The Trump administration dismissed prosecutors involved in January 6th criminal investigations on Friday and requested the names of FBI agents participating in those probes, potentially leading to their removal. These actions signify the White House’s attempt to control federal law enforcement and eliminate career employees deemed insufficiently loyal.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the firings of the January 6th prosecutors days after President Trump’s broad pardon initiative covering over 1,500 individuals charged in the Capitol attack, according to an Associated Press memo. Approximately two dozen employees from the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington were terminated, according to an anonymous source who lacked authorization to discuss personnel matters.
In a separate memo, Bove instructed over half a dozen senior FBI executives to retire or face dismissal by Monday. He also requested a list of all FBI employees involved in the January 6th Capitol riot investigation—potentially numbering in the thousands—including their names, positions, and offices. Bove, who previously defended Trump in criminal cases, stated the Justice Department would conduct a review to determine if further personnel actions are needed.
“As we’ve stated from the outset, we will uphold the law, adhere to FBI policy, and prioritize the well-being of our workforce and the American people,” wrote acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll in a letter to employees.
The memo obtained by the AP indicates that the prosecutors dismissed from the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office held temporary positions supporting January 6th cases but were transitioned to permanent roles after Trump’s November election win. Bove stated he would not “tolerate subversive personnel actions by the previous administration.”
Widespread dismissals at the FBI would significantly damage the agency’s historical independence from the White House. This action would align with Trump’s consistent efforts to influence law enforcement and intelligence agencies. It reflects a pattern of retribution against federal employees, following the earlier forced departure of senior FBI executives and the Justice Department’s dismissal of prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith’s team investigating Trump.
The FBI Agents Association described the reported attempts to oust agents as “outrageous actions by acting officials” contradicting President Trump’s stated support for FBI agents and law enforcement objectives.
“Dismissing potentially hundreds of Agents would significantly impair the Bureau’s ability to protect the nation from national security and criminal threats, ultimately jeopardizing the Bureau and its new leadership,” the association stated.
The recourse available to dismissed agents remains unclear. The bureau has established termination procedures, and any deviation from these protocols could potentially lead to legal challenges.
During his confirmation hearing, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, claimed unawareness of any plans to terminate or punish FBI employees involved in Trump investigations. Patel stated he would adhere to the FBI’s internal review processes if confirmed.
When questioned by Senator Cory Booker about reversing pre-confirmation decisions violating standard procedures, Patel responded, “I’m unaware of current events, but I assure you and my colleagues that I will uphold FBI due process.”
Prior to his nomination, Patel reportedly referred to government and media figures he deemed anti-Trump “conspirators” who required removal.
Trump has repeatedly expressed anger towards the FBI and Justice Department concerning investigations into his presidency, including the inquiry into Russia’s ties to his 2016 campaign. He fired FBI Director James Comey during the Russia investigation and replaced Director Christopher Wray shortly after his November election victory.
When asked at the White House about the agent scrutiny, Trump stated: “No, but we have some very bad people over there. It was weaponized at a level unseen before. They targeted many people—including me.”
He added, “If they fired some people, that’s good, because they were very bad.”
The FBI and Smith’s team investigated Trump regarding his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Both cases resulted in indictments later withdrawn due to longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
The Justice Department charged over 1,500 Trump supporters in connection with the Capitol riot. Trump granted clemency to all of them upon assuming office, including those convicted of violent crimes, through pardons, sentence commutations, and dismissed indictments.
This week, the Justice Department fired over a dozen prosecutors from Smith’s investigations, and a group of senior FBI executives—including several executive assistant directors and agents in charge of major field offices—were instructed to resign, retire, or face dismissal by Monday.
—Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Michael Kunzelman, Byron Tau and Jim Mustian contributed to this report.