The FBI has reportedly dismissed more than a dozen agents who were photographed kneeling alongside protesters during the 2020 racial justice demonstrations in Washington, D.C., following the killing of George Floyd. Multiple news outlets, including The Washington Post, have reported that the number of agents fired could exceed 20, including senior officials.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the matter when reached on Saturday.
The FBI Agents Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for bureau employees, confirmed that over a dozen agents—some of whom are military veterans—have been terminated. In a statement, the association described the dismissals as “unlawful,” arguing they violated the agents’ due process and constitutional rights.
“Rather than providing these agents with fair treatment and due process, FBI Director Kash Patel chose to again violate the law by ignoring these agents’ constitutional and legal rights instead of following the requisite process,” the statement said.
The association also warned the firings could hurt future recruitment and retention efforts and urged Congress to investigate the situation.
The agents were photographed kneeling on June 4, 2020, during a protest in Washington, D.C., as part of what has been described as a de-escalation strategy. According to CNN, the agents were outnumbered by demonstrators who urged them to kneel. National Guard troops had previously knelt during similar protests.
At the time, then-President Donald Trump had called on Attorney General Bill Barr to take control of the unrest. In response, Barr directed the FBI and other federal agencies to assist with crowd control and protect government buildings.
Images of kneeling FBI agents quickly spread on social media, sparking criticism from some who claimed the gesture showed liberal bias within the agency.
An internal FBI review later concluded that the agents had not violated any specific bureau policy and that no disciplinary action was warranted.
Since taking office, Director Patel has pledged to eliminate political bias within the agency. His tenure has been marked by a series of high-profile dismissals, forced resignations, demotions, and internal reshuffling.
Earlier this month, former Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll Jr. and two other senior officials—Steven Jensen and Spencer Evans—filed a 68-page lawsuit alleging they were wrongfully terminated as part of an effort to turn the FBI into an extension of the Trump White House.
The suit names Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the Trump administration as defendants. The plaintiffs allege the firings were politically motivated and unlawful.
Patel has denied the allegations, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that all dismissals were based solely on agents’ failure to meet FBI standards.
Read full article here: MSN
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