“Trump-Era DOJ to Get Names of FBI Agents Who Probed Capitol Riots!”
FBI executives debated resisting a Trump DOJ demand to hand over the names of agents involved in Capitol riot investigations but ultimately complied, citing legal obligations, according to current and former officials.
One option considered was providing only senior executives’ names, but the FBI’s legal team ruled full compliance was mandatory. The decision came amid backlash from the FBI Agents Association and former FBI Director William Webster, who condemned the removal of eight senior FBI officials, calling it a dangerous distraction that jeopardizes national security.
The Society of Retired Special Agents urged members to protest potential firings of January 6 investigators, warning that the moves were undermining the Bureau’s mission. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats demanded answers from the Trump administration’s DOJ and FBI leaders regarding the firings and reassignments, calling them an alarming threat to national security.
A letter from Sen. Richard Durbin and fellow Democrats to incoming Attorney General Pam Bondi raised concerns over what they described as a potential “mass purge” of FBI personnel who worked on Capitol riot cases, citing at least 20 Justice Department lawyers and eight FBI senior managers already removed or reassigned.
A letter from Senate Democrats warned that while President Trump won the 2024 election, he does not have the authority to dismantle the federal civil service or replace nonpartisan DOJ officials with loyalists.
NBC News reached out to all eleven Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for comment, but only Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri responded. “President Trump was given a mandate to reform Washington, and he’s delivering,” Schmitt said, mocking Democrats for their outrage.
The letter comes amid what critics call a “shock and awe” campaign by the Trump administration to purge senior officials and consolidate control over federal agencies—moves some experts say may be illegal. Democrats warned that these sweeping removals undermine national security, stripping the DOJ and FBI of experienced leaders vital in fighting crime, espionage, and terrorism.
With Republicans in control, Democrats have little power to enforce document requests or block Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, who faces a committee vote next week. Committee chairman Chuck Grassley has remained silent on the FBI shake-up, and Patel declined to comment when asked.
During his confirmation hearing last Thursday, Patel denied knowledge of mass firings. Hours later, news broke that eight senior FBI executives—including heads of major field offices—had been forced out. Meanwhile, the Trump administration began collecting the names of all FBI agents involved in January 6 investigations, fueling fears of a broader purge.
Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll assured agents that due process protects them from sudden termination, but tensions remain high. James Dennehy, head of the New York field office, directly challenged the administration in an internal email: “We are in the middle of a battle… as good people are being walked out of the FBI, targeted simply for doing their jobs.”
Ousted Jan. 6 Prosecutors Pack Up After Sudden Firings
Federal prosecutors fired for their work on Jan. 6 cases returned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. on Monday to hand in government devices and collect personal belongings.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin—an outspoken “Stop the Steal” advocate who was at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and has pushed conspiracy theories—declined to answer questions when leaving the building.
Shortly after, the dismissed prosecutors emerged, some carrying boxes. One received flowers from her father in a quiet show of support.
Hired to tackle the overwhelming Capitol riot caseload, the prosecutors were still in their probationary period when they were abruptly fired Friday night. While none were accused of misconduct, their termination letters cited Trump’s executive order granting pardons to rioters, calling Jan. 6 prosecutions “a grave national injustice.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com