Trump Administration Fires Jan. 6 Prosecutors, Moves to Oust FBI Agents/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration fired a group of prosecutors involved in Jan. 6 cases and demanded a list of FBI agents who worked on the investigations, signaling a broad effort to reshape federal law enforcement. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the terminations, affecting two dozen Justice Department employees, just days after Trump granted clemency to more than 1,500 individuals charged in the Capitol riot. A separate memo instructed high-ranking FBI officials to retire or be fired by Monday, as Trump officials review additional personnel actions. The FBI Agents Association condemned the move, warning it would weaken national security. Meanwhile, Trump dismissed concerns, calling some in the agency “very bad people.”
Trump’s DOJ and FBI Purge: Quick Look
- DOJ fires prosecutors involved in Jan. 6 cases, just days after Trump’s mass clemency order.
- FBI ordered to provide names of agents who worked on Jan. 6 probes, with potential firings looming.
- More than a half-dozen senior FBI executives told to resign or be fired by Monday.
- The FBI Agents Association condemned the move, calling it a threat to national security.
- Trump-appointed Acting Deputy AG Emil Bove is leading the effort, citing “subversive personnel actions”.
- Trump denies direct involvement but claims the FBI was “weaponized” against him and his allies.
Trump Administration Fires Jan. 6 Prosecutors, Moves to Oust FBI Agents
Trump DOJ and FBI Purge: A Deep Look
Sweeping Firings at DOJ and FBI
On Friday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove fired prosecutors involved in the investigation and prosecution of Jan. 6 rioters. The move came just days after Trump issued a blanket clemency order, dismissing cases and pardoning all individuals charged in connection with the Capitol attack.
- Around two dozen prosecutors were terminated from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington.
- A separate memo ordered high-ranking FBI officials to retire or be dismissed by Monday.
- The DOJ also demanded the names of all FBI personnel involved in Jan. 6 investigations, with plans to review their roles.
Bove, a former Trump defense attorney, accused the previous administration of politicizing law enforcement and pledged to remove officials seen as “subversive” to Trump’s agenda.
FBI Officials and Law Enforcement Respond
The FBI Agents Association strongly condemned the administration’s actions, warning that mass firings would damage national security and hinder the bureau’s ability to combat threats.
- “Dismissing potentially hundreds of agents would severely weaken the Bureau’s ability to protect the country,” the association said in a statement.
- Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll told agents to stay focused, vowing to follow FBI policy despite political pressure.
- Legal experts warn the firings could violate due process, setting up potential legal challenges from terminated employees.
Trump’s Stance: “Very Bad People” at the FBI
When asked if he was involved in targeting FBI agents and prosecutors, Trump denied direct involvement but defended the effort.
- “We have some very bad people over there,” Trump said Friday.
- He accused the FBI of being “weaponized” against him and his supporters.
- “If they fired some people over there, that’s a good thing,” he added.
Kash Patel’s Confirmation Hearing Raises More Questions
During his Senate confirmation hearing this week, Trump’s pick for FBI Director, Kash Patel, claimed he was not aware of any plans to punish FBI agents involved in Trump-related investigations.
- When asked by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) if he would reverse these firings, Patel declined to commit, saying he would review all actions taken.
- Patel had previously called anti-Trump officials within the government “conspirators”, raising concerns about his role in the purge.
Broader Efforts to Reshape Law Enforcement
The latest firings follow a larger pattern of the Trump administration removing career officials from federal agencies.
- Trump previously ousted FBI Director Christopher Wray, replacing him with loyalist Brian Driscoll.
- The DOJ fired more than a dozen prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team, which had indicted Trump in multiple cases before the charges were dropped after Trump’s re-election.
- Several senior FBI officials, including field office leaders, have been instructed to resign or retire or face dismissal.
With Trump increasing his control over federal law enforcement, concerns are rising over whether these actions are politically motivated or part of a broader effort to reshape the Justice Department and FBI in line with Trump’s agenda.
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