FBI Terminates Agents Linked to Trump Classified Documents Investigation
The FBI has dismissed approximately 10 agents who were involved in the investigation concerning Donald Trump's handling of classified documents following his first presidential term.
The firings, which occurred on Wednesday, were confirmed by CBS, the BBC's US partner. This announcement came shortly after FBI Director Kash Patel informed that federal agents had subpoenaed his phone records from when he was a private citizen during the course of the documents investigation.
In addition, Susie Wiles, currently serving as White House chief of staff, also had her phone records subpoenaed while she was a private citizen as part of the same investigation.
Patel did not provide any evidence indicating misconduct by the FBI employees who were terminated.
Background of the Investigations
Following Trump's departure from the White House in 2021, Special Counsel Jack Smith led two federal investigations involving the former president. One investigation focused on whether Trump attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The other probe concerned classified documents that Trump had taken to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, as well as allegations that he obstructed the US Department of Justice's efforts to retrieve those documents.
The FBI agents who were dismissed on Wednesday had all participated in the classified documents investigation.
The BBC has reached out to the FBI for comment regarding these firings.
Reactions to the Firings
An advocacy organization representing current and former FBI employees criticized the dismissals.
"These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau's ability to meet its recruitment goals - ultimately putting the nation at greater risk," the FBI Agents Association stated.
Legal Proceedings and Developments
In 2023, Trump and two associates were indicted following Smith's investigation into the classified documents.
However, in 2024, a federal judge in Florida dismissed the case against Trump, ruling that Smith had been unlawfully appointed.
Additionally, a federal appeals court in Georgia dismissed the case against the last two defendants earlier this year, at the request of the Department of Justice under Trump's administration.
Broader Context of Firings and Legal Actions
Since Trump's return to the White House in January, both the Department of Justice and the FBI have terminated employees who were involved in federal investigations against him.
The Department of Justice has also sought to bring charges against former FBI Director James Comey, who Trump dismissed during his first term in 2017, as well as New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump.
