FBI Fires 10 Agents From Trump Documents Investigation
At least 10 FBI employees who investigated Trump’s retention of classified documents were fired on Wednesday following allegations by FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau had improperly subpoenaed his phone records as a private citizen. Patel claimed the FBI used “flimsy pretexts” to obtain the records, though Reuters reported he provided no evidence of wrongdoing by the terminated staff. All fired agents and analysts worked on the documents case overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which resulted in the first federal criminal indictments against a former president.
The firings represent Trump administration retaliation against federal employees who conducted investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and obstruct the Justice Department’s classified documents inquiry. A source confirmed that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ records were reviewed as part of the documents case, though verification of Patel’s claims remained unavailable. The Trump administration has systematically targeted personnel from both investigations, having previously purged senior FBI agents involved in Trump criminal investigations and fired prosecutors who worked on Smith’s team.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as violations of due process, stating the removals “weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce” while undermining recruitment and national security. Smith’s investigations led to charges that Trump unlawfully attempted to overturn the 2020 election results and retained classified records while obstructing efforts to retrieve them. A federal judge dismissed the classified documents charges in mid-2024 on grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed, and Smith dropped the election charges after Trump won the 2024 race.
Trump has demanded prosecution of Smith, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former FBI Director Christopher Wray for what he characterized as “illegal and highly unethical behavior.” Attorneys for Smith countered that his actions were “entirely lawful, proper and consistent with established Department of Justice policy.” The Trump administration’s firing campaign extended to agents who worked the Arctic Frost election investigation, as controversy erupted over the FBI obtaining phone records of Republican lawmakers during the January 6 Capitol riot investigation.