Advocacy groups representing FBI agents appealed to the US Congress on Monday to intervene to stop possible mass firings of agents who worked on the investigation of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack and other investigations condemned by US President Donald Trump.
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In a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives, the groups warned that Trump-appointed leaders at the Justice Department were taking actions that imperilled the careers of thousands of FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agents.
Republicans hold narrow majorities in both the chambers and have so far shown little interest in criticising or reining in the administration’s actions.
A senior Justice Department official appointed by Trump asked the FBI to compile a list of employees who worked on cases related to the Capitol attack. FBI employees were ordered to fill out a questionnaire on Sunday detailing their work on those cases.
“We urge you to work with President Trump to prevent acting officials from taking personnel actions that undermine our shared goal of keeping the FBI out of politics,” the groups wrote in the letter. It was signed by the head of the FBI Agents Association, which represents 14,000 current and former special agents, and other police groups.
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The directive has stoked fears that the Trump administration, which has already fired or reassigned dozens of Justice Department prosecutors and senior FBI officials, may take action against FBI agents who worked on the Capitol riot investigation.