The top agent at the F.B.I.’s New York field office, James E. Dennehy, has vowed to “dig in” after the Trump administration targeted officials involved in investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In an email to his staff, Dennehy praised the bureau’s interim leaders for defending its independence and criticized the Justice Department’s efforts to collect the names of bureau personnel who helped investigate the attack.
Dennehy wrote that those who were removed from their positions had spread “fear and angst” within the F.B.I. ranks, but he urged his employees to remain calm and not make any rushed decisions about their careers. He also suggested that he had no intention of stepping down, saying it was time for him to “dig in.”
The F.B.I.’s New York field office is one of the largest and most important in the bureau, with around 1,100 agents and 500 task officers. The Trump administration has ordered the F.B.I. to collect the names of bureau personnel who helped investigate the Jan. 6 attack, which could lead to the removal of up to 6,000 employees – about 15% of the agency’s total workforce.
At least nine high-ranking officials have been forced out since Mr. Trump’s inauguration, plunging the F.B.I. into confusion. The bureau has issued a statement reassuring its workforce that it is committed to its mission and values, but many are worried about the implications of the purge on their careers and livelihoods.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/us/politics/fbi-new-york-email-trump.html