[The Fate of Thousands of FBI Officials Hangs in the Balance as Justice Department Demands Questionnaire
The Justice Department is demanding that thousands of FBI officials fill out a questionnaire about their involvement in investigating the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot, a move that employees believe is a precursor to mass firings. The unusual demand comes as CNN has reported that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is considering expanding its purge of bureau personnel.
The questionnaire, which was sent out to FBI employees, asks about their role in the investigation and whether they have any information about the riot. The FBI Agents Association has told its members not to resign or offer to resign, saying that any removal from the bureau would not be voluntary.
Lawyers for prosecutors and FBI agents have also weighed in, calling the possible dismissal of employees who worked on Trump-related investigations a “violation of the due process rights” and threatening legal action in a letter to senior DOJ officials.
The letter, signed by attorneys Mark Zaid, Norm Eisen, and retired federal Judge Nancy Gertner, warns that if the names of the agents become public, they would be subject to “immediate risk of doxing, swatting, harassment, or possibly worse.”
The Justice Department has already fired more than a dozen officials who worked on the federal criminal investigations into Trump, with a letter from acting Attorney General James McHenry saying they cannot be “trusted” to “faithfully” implement Trump’s agenda.
FBI leaders have been instructed to provide information about all current and former bureau employees who “at any time” worked on January 6 investigations by Tuesday. The move has been met with considerable pushback, with some employees receiving legal advice to not resign and others preparing to “dig in” to defend their colleagues.
The top agent in the FBI’s New York field office, James Dennehy, has told his staff that he is preparing to “dig in” to defend them, saying that he will support each and every one of them with whatever personal decision they make, but he is sticking around to defend them, their work, their families, and the team.
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