Kash Patel, now at the helm of the FBI, has dismissed at least ten employees connected to the investigation into classified documents at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. This action follows reports that the bureau had accessed phone records related to Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during the Biden administration.
“It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records — along with those of now White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” Patel stated, expressing his discontent over the actions taken by former FBI officials.
The investigation, initiated in March 2022 under Special Counsel Jack Smith, scrutinized Trump’s management of classified materials post-presidency and alleged obstruction of justice. This inquiry led to an FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, where agents seized boxes containing top-secret documents. The following year, Trump faced a 37-count indictment from Smith’s office, accusing him of willfully retaining sensitive documents. However, a federal judge dismissed the case in July 2024, citing constitutional issues surrounding Smith's appointment.
Trump has vehemently criticized Smith, referring to him as a “deranged animal” and denouncing the case as a "witch hunt." He has also claimed that President Joe Biden received preferential treatment during a similar investigation that resulted in no criminal charges.
In a related context, GOP lawmakers previously accused the Biden-era FBI of acquiring cellphone data from nine Republican Congress members linked to the January 6 riot investigation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed “grave concerns” regarding this revelation.
The FBI has not yet commented on these recent developments. The employees terminated on Wednesday were specifically associated with Trump’s classified documents investigation, according to sources.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the mass firings, stating, “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.”
This incident marks another chapter in a series of layoffs at one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies. Since Trump assumed office last January, the bureau has seen a purge of staffers involved in investigations related to him and those connected to the January 6 events.
Patel has also let go of at least 30 agents perceived as lacking conservative credentials. Reports indicate that some agents participated in protests or displayed symbols that contradicted Patel's views, such as taking a knee during Black Lives Matter demonstrations or displaying a gay pride flag.
Controversy surrounds Patel beyond personnel decisions; he has faced scrutiny for utilizing government planes for personal travel, including a recent trip to attend the Olympics in Italy. A video surfaced showing him celebrating with the U.S. men’s hockey team after their gold-medal win. Defending himself on social media, he claimed that he was invited into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the team.
