FBI Fires ~20 Agents Over 2020 Kneeling; Union Condemns Dismissals
FBI Director Kash Patel ordered roughly 20 agents dismissed, including several who were photographed kneeling at George Floyd‑era racial‑justice demonstrations outside FBI headquarters in 2020; termination letters reportedly cited a “lack of judgment,” and many of the agents had been reassigned to lower‑profile duties in intervening years. The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as unlawful and a “dangerous precedent,” called for a congressional investigation and said due process was ignored, while a broader purge that included summary ousters of supervisors (named in lawsuits by Steve Jensen, Brian Driscoll and Spencer Evans) and recent suits by top FBI officials have alleged improper motivations and pressure.
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📰 Sources (3)
FBI fires agents photographed kneeling during 2020 protest
New information:
- The firings are linked specifically to agents who were photographed kneeling amid Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, D.C., in summer 2020.
- Termination letters reportedly cited the agents' 'lack of judgement' for kneeling.
- The FBI Agents Association publicly condemned the firings and called for a congressional investigation, arguing due process was ignored.
- Article ties the kneeling‑related dismissals to a broader, recent purge that included summary ousters of higher‑profile supervisors (naming Steve Jensen, Brian Driscoll and others) and references a lawsuit by Jensen, Driscoll and Spencer Evans alleging improper motivations and pressure.
FBI agents fired after kneeling at George Floyd protest in 2020: reports
New information:
- Fox cites Associated Press reporting that the number fired is 'nearly two dozen' and notes Reuters framed the number as 'more than a dozen', reinforcing prior counts at roughly 20.
- Reports that many of the terminated agents had been reassigned to lower‑profile duties in intervening years.
- Direct quote and position from the FBI Agents Association condemning the firings as 'unlawful' and a 'dangerous precedent' (as reported by Fox).
- Contextual linkage in the piece tying the firings specifically to photographs showing agents kneeling outside FBI headquarters during May 2020 George Floyd demonstrations.
F.B.I. Fires More Agents, Including Those Who Knelt During Racial Justice Protests
New information:
- Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ordered roughly 20 agent dismissals.
- Among those fired were agents who had been pictured kneeling at 2020 racial‑justice demonstrations following George Floyd's killing.
- The F.B.I. Agents Association publicly condemned the move and top F.B.I. officials recently sued the administration over prior dismissals.