The Blubber

The head of the FBI’s New York Field Office was removed from his position on Monday, a month after urging his employees to "dig in" following the Trump administration’s dismissal of senior FBI officials and its request for a list of agents who had worked on January 6 cases, according to five sources familiar with the matter, NBC News reported.

In an email sent to FBI staff in New York on Monday, James Dennehy confirmed that he had been forced to retire.

“Late Friday, I was informed that I needed to submit my retirement papers today, which I just did,” Dennehy wrote. “I was not given a reason for this decision.”

Two sources indicated that Dennehy, a widely respected FBI leader and former Marine, was given an ultimatum: resign or be fired.

Last month, Dennehy sent an email to his staff after the Trump Justice Department, led by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, demanded a list of all FBI employees who had worked on criminal cases involving the hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the Capitol riot.

“Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own as good people are being walked out of the FBI,” Dennehy wrote. “And others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and FBI policy.”

“Time for me to dig in,” he added.

Dennehy’s email referenced the removal of eight veteran FBI leaders, which came just one day after then-incoming FBI Director Kash Patel testified under oath that “All FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.”

Despite this assurance, the head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office—who had been involved in the criminal investigations of Trump—was dismissed, along with other senior officials. Around the same time, Bove requested the names of all agents who had worked on January 6 cases.

Within the FBI, many believe that resistance from Dennehy, along with Acting Director Brian Driscoll and Acting Deputy Director Rob Kissane, played a key role in preventing the mass firing of thousands of officials who worked on January 6 cases. However, Dennehy’s removal is expected to reignite concerns that widespread firings could still be on the horizon.