The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly dismissed at least ten of its staff members this Wednesday. The individuals discharged were all connected with the investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents after he left office in 2021. This move comes amid a flurry of controversy surrounding the bureau's conduct during the probe.
The terminations are the latest development following reports that FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had their phone records subpoenaed as part of the investigation while they were private citizens. Patel, in public statements, has criticized the FBI's actions, accusing the agency of using questionable justifications for the subpoenas and attempting to conceal their steps from oversight.
However, Reuters, which initially reported the subpoenas, has indicated that it could not independently confirm Patel's accusations. Moreover, Patel did not present evidence directly implicating the terminated FBI staff in any misconduct.
The staff members affected had roles in the case concerning the classified documents, according to insider sources. Notably, these employees were not involved in a separate investigation regarding the 2020 election, internally referred to as Arctic Frost.
CBS News has verified that Wiles' records were reviewed during the documents inquiry. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Patel's records underwent the same scrutiny in that context. Further, it's been stated that Patel's records were not subpoenaed as part of the Arctic Frost case.
Jack Smith, the former Special Counsel, spearheaded two federal investigations involving President Trump. One addressed allegations that Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, and the other focused on his retention of classified documents and possible obstruction of the Justice Department's efforts to recover those files. These probes led to unprecedented federal criminal indictments against President Trump.
However, the legal landscape shifted when a federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents charges in mid-2024, citing an unlawful appointment of Smith. Following President Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential race, Smith dropped the charges related to the 2020 election.
The Trump administration has responded to the investigations by taking action against federal employees linked to both. Prior to the latest terminations, the Justice Department dismissed prosecutors from Smith's team, and the FBI released agents involved in the Arctic Frost case.
The FBI Agents Association has publicly condemned the terminations, arguing that they violate the due process rights of the agents and analysts. The association claims these actions could harm the FBI's reputation, disrupt its workforce, and pose a national security risk by impeding the bureau's recruitment capabilities.
Controversy further intensified when the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee disclosed that the FBI had obtained phone records from several Republican lawmakers during the Arctic Frost investigation. The records detailed call data surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot but did not include the content of the calls.
President Trump has called for legal actions against Smith, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and other officials, accusing them of illegal and unethical behavior. In contrast, attorneys for Smith have defended his conduct as lawful and in line with the Department of Justice policy.
CBS News has reached out to the FBI for comments on the dismissals but had not received a response at the time of this report.
