Head of FBI New York Office Forced Out After Criticizing Trump Pursuit of Agents Who Investigated Jan. 6
FBI Chief of New York Office Removed from Position
The head of the FBI’s New York Field Office, James Dennehy, was forced out of the bureau on Monday, just a month after he criticized the Trump administration’s removal of senior FBI leaders and requests for the names of all agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
Reason for Departure
Dennehy was given a choice to resign or be fired, and he has officially retired. In an email to colleagues, he stated that he was "not given a reason" for the decision to remove him from his position.
Dennehy’s Response
In his email, Dennehy expressed his pride in representing the FBI and its employees, stating that he would "never stop defending this joint." He also urged FBI employees to maintain the values of the bureau, including upholding the rule of law and seeking the truth.
Background on Dennehy
Dennehy has been with the FBI for over two decades, specializing in weapons counterproliferation and spending time in management roles in both the Washington D.C. and New York field offices before being promoted to lead the New York office in 2022. He served in the Marine Corps for six years before joining the FBI.
Trump’s Intervention
Trump has promised to fire "some" FBI special agents who worked on Jan. 6 cases, claiming without evidence that they were "corrupt." The move is seen as an attempt to exert political influence over the FBI, which has historically maintained its independence from political interference.
New Leadership
The FBI is set to be led by two Trump loyalists: Nandu Pate, a former federal prosecutor, Congressional staffer, and national security official, and Dan Bongino, a right-wing podcast host and former Secret Service Agent and New York police officer who has accused the FBI of staging the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol.
Conclusion
The forced removal of James Dennehy from his position as head of the FBI’s New York Field Office is a worrying development in the ongoing saga surrounding the Trump administration’s attempts to exert political influence over the FBI. The move is seen as a threat to the independence of the FBI and its ability to investigate cases without political interference.
FAQs
- Who is James Dennehy?
- James Dennehy is the former head of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
- Why was Dennehy forced out of his position?
- Dennehy was given a choice to resign or be fired, and he has officially retired. He was not given a reason for the decision.
- Why is this development significant?
- The move is seen as a threat to the independence of the FBI and its ability to investigate cases without political interference.
- Who will lead the FBI in the future?
- The FBI will be led by two Trump loyalists, Nandu Pate and Dan Bongino.
