New York [US], February 1: CNN reported on February 1 that President Donald Trump's administration is about to lay off law enforcement officials, including dozens of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents who participated in investigations related to Mr. Trump and the protesters storming the Capitol building on January 6, 2021.
The move represents a swift move by the new administration to make good on Mr. Trump's pledge to hit back at the Justice Department and FBI, agencies he says have been used against him.
Interim leaders at the Justice Department have spent the past week compiling a list of employees at the agency who Trump has found displeasing for various reasons, according to sources. Some agents and analysts have been warned by FBI leadership that they could be offered leave or forced out.
Agents investigating alleged mishandling of classified material by Mr Trump and those investigating the roughly 1,600 people charged or convicted in connection with the Capitol riot have expressed concern that they could face retaliation for their work.
The Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment.
According to information obtained by CNN, at least 12 prosecutors who handled cases related to the riots were terminated by the Justice Department on January 31. At the FBI, at least six senior leaders have been asked to retire, resigned or forced to resign.
Reuters cited a memo showing that Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll confirmed that eight senior officials of the agency have been asked to resign or forced out. The FBI has also been directed to quickly release a list of all employees and former employees involved in the investigation into the January 6, 2021 riot.
Currently, Mr. Trump 's nominee to lead the FBI, Mr. Kash Patel, is awaiting approval by the US Senate. During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 30, Mr. Patel said he was not aware of any upcoming personnel plans at the FBI.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
