Kash Patel’s FBI purges senior officials involved in Jan. 6 investigations

FBI Director Kash Patel, one of the Trump administration’s highest-ranking Asian American officials, dismissed three high-ranking FBI officials Thursday, including former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, who had rejected administration requests to identify agents involved in Jan. 6 investigations.

Driscoll’s refusal to hand over agent names reportedly prompted “insubordination” accusations from then-Justice Department official Emil Bove, elevating him to hero status among personnel who circulated memes dubbing him “Saint Driz.” He was fired without explanation.

The dismissals extended to Assistant Director Steven Jensen, who oversaw the Washington field office involved in investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, and Special Agent Walter Giardina, a Marine veteran involved in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the contempt of Congress case against Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro for refusing to testify before the House select committee appointed to investigate Jan. 6. A termination letter particularly cited Giardina, whose wife succumbed to cancer last month, for “poor judgment” and “lack of impartiality,” alleging his role in the “political weaponization of the government.”

The FBI Agents Association condemned the dismissals as lacking proper procedures and warned they jeopardize national security.

Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have eliminated numerous other positions and implemented polygraph tests for some agents, sparking unrest within the workforce. The bureau also transferred agents in April who had been photographed kneeling during 2020 racial justice demonstrations following George Floyd’s killing. Field office supervisors have received ultimatums to retire, quit or accept reassignments.