Senior FBI Official Attempts To Skirt Agency-wide Purge
A top New York FBI official is not ready to call it quits.
James E. Dennehy, vowed to “dig in” and stand his ground as the agency reels from a wave of removals targeting officials involved in the investigation of the January 6th attack.
On Friday, the Trump administration served some senior FBI officials with an ultimatum: either resign or be fired. (RELATED: Trump Hits Senior FBI Officials In Unexpected Ultimatum)
The shake-up has already led to the removal of at least nine high-ranking FBI officials since the start of the Trump administration, creating what Dennehy described as “fear and angst within the F.B.I. ranks.” Adding to that tension is a controversial questionnaire requiring agents to disclose their roles in investigating and prosecuting January 6th rioters.
In the fiery email to his staff obtained by The New York Times, Dennehy acknowledged the turmoil and indicated he had no intention of standing down.
“Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the F.B.I. and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and F.B.I. policy,” he wrote.
Dennehy compared the current situation to his experience as a Marine when he was required to dig a foxhole for safety.
“It sucked,” he wrote. “But it worked.”
He went on to praise the two top acting officials at the F.B.I., acting director Brian Driscoll and acting deputy director Robert C. Kissane, as “warriors” for “fighting” on behalf of the staff.
Amid reported anxiety within the agency, Kissane attempted to reassure employees, writing in an email: “We do not view anyone’s identification on the list as an indicator of any misconduct… We are still working with D.O.J. to better understand the purpose for which the list is being sought.”
