By Steve Neavling
The FBI has fired four agents who worked on the Biden-era investigation into Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the latest in a widening purge that has rattled the bureau’s Washington field office, according to people familiar with the matter, The Washington Post reports.
FBI Director Kash Patel dismissed the agents Monday, reinstated them hours later after pushback from D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, then fired them again Tuesday morning, sources said. Pirro reportedly sought to keep some of the agents because they were working on active cases.
The firings follow Patel’s recent removal of at least two other agents tied to the 2020 election probe and another who managed the bureau’s jet fleet, after reports criticized Patel for using government aircraft for personal travel.
The FBI declined to comment. Pirro’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
The FBI Agents Association condemned Patel’s actions, calling them “chaotic” and unlawful.
“An Agent simply being assigned to an investigation and conducting it appropriately within the law should never be grounds for termination,” the group said, adding that Patel “has disregarded the law and launched a campaign of erratic and arbitrary retribution.”
The turmoil comes as Senate Republicans intensify scrutiny of special counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw the Trump election-interference probe. Sen. Chuck Grassley has publicly released subpoenas revealing that Smith obtained phone records of nine GOP lawmakers, exposing the names of several agents, including some of those now fired.
