By Steve Neavling
The FBI has placed intelligence analyst Brian Auten on administrative leave, raising concerns about political retaliation under Director Kash Patel, The New York Times reports.
Auten’s suspension last week came months after Patel told lawmakers he would not take retributive action against employees for political reasons. The FBI declined to comment, and Auten’s attorney also declined.
Auten worked on two investigations that drew fire from Trump allies: the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Hunter Biden laptop analysis during the 2020 campaign. He was already disciplined for errors tied to surveillance applications involving a former Trump adviser.
Patel, who called the Russia investigation a hoax, has criticized Auten in his book Government Gangsters, which includes a list of 60 people in an appendix labeled “Members of the Executive Branch Deep State.” Auten is among those listed.
At his confirmation hearing, Patel denied the list was retaliatory, promising, “There will be no politicization at the FBI.” But Auten’s suspension has heightened internal concerns, especially after several senior officials were pushed out in recent months without explanation.
