Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of the FBI, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP)
"The FBI has long been a bulwark against such corruption: an institution where rule of law and civil liberties are held in balance with the demands of national security," the letter continued. "Its independence is not a bureaucratic feature; it is a democratic necessity."
The Steady State told their friends and colleagues in the FBI that they recognize the pressure they are under.
"The nation is watching, and will be inspired by the FBI. And history will remember," the letter concluded.
Last Thursday, the FBI ousted Driscoll, the former FBI acting director, as well as others, including Giardina, a special agent at the FBI who played a role in the investigation of Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro. Also let go was Steve Jensen, the acting director in charge of the Washington Field Office.
KASH PATEL TORCHES ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ ABOUT BONDI FEUD AMID MAGA FUROR OVER EPSTEIN FILES
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has been criticized by former FBI agents and other members of the federal intelligence community for not having a resume fit to lead the world's premiere law enforcement agency. (Fox & Friends)
The FBI, Bongino and Patel declined to comment on Fox News Digital’s questions about The Steady State’s claims and on reasons why the agents were removed from their positions.
MSNBC journalist Ken Dilanian shared on social media a copy of the letter from Patel to Giardina.
"This document provides official notice that you are being summarily dismissed from your position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and removed from the federal service, under my authority as the FBI Director, effective immediately," Patel wrote. You have exercised poor judgment and a lack of impartiality in carrying out duties, leading to the political weaponization of the government."
FBI’S TOP BOSS KASH PATEL SAYS BUREAU RAN COVER FOR HILLARY BUT IT ALL ENDS UNDER TRUMP
A scene from the January 6 riot at the US Capitol in 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
News of the agents’ firings comes months after thousands of FBI personnel in February were ordered to fill out a questionnaire asking detailed questions about possible roles in the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots.
The questionnaire, first reported by Fox News Digital, sparked concern that it could be used to retaliate against agents involved in the January 6 investigations. Those concerns reached a fever pitch later that month, after then-Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the bureau to compile a list of all current and former personnel who worked on January 6 cases.
The Trump administration has not yet said whether it will move to act against the individuals involved.
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In February, President Trump declined to answer questions over whether his administration would remove FBI employees involved in the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, telling reporters only that he believes the bureau is "corrupt" and that then-FBI director nominee, Patel, would "straighten it out."
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-government-officials-pen-letter-blasting-kash-patels-fbi-purge