New York Attorney General Letitia James has united with a coalition of 20 attorneys general to urge the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to request additional testimony from FBI Director nominee Kash Patel. This follows reports suggesting a planned removal of thousands of FBI agents and staff involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
In a letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, the coalition expressed significant concern over reports that the Trump administration intends to dismiss agents and staff who participated in these investigations, potentially affecting around 15% of the FBI workforce. The attorneys general caution that such actions could jeopardize public safety and undermine the rule of law across the nation.
"This effort to defund the FBI to fulfill a political vendetta puts the American people at risk. The FBI is critical to keeping Americans safe from violent crime, terrorism, and threats to our democracy," stated Attorney General James. "Any effort to retaliate against career law enforcement officials for doing their jobs is unacceptable and a direct threat to our justice system."
Reports suggest that more than twelve prosecutors involved in January 6th cases have already been removed, with considerations underway for dismissing six additional senior FBI officials. Moreover, there are claims that an acting deputy attorney general has instructed the FBI to compile a list of all personnel linked to January 6th investigations. If used as reported for dismissals, this could impact over 6,000 employees, weakening federal law enforcement nationwide.
At Mr. Patel’s confirmation hearing, details about this alleged purge were not yet public. The attorneys general are pressing for answers from Mr. Patel before his nomination proceeds in the Senate.
The group argues that removing more than 6,000 agents and staff would endanger public safety nationwide by undermining efforts against crimes identified as priorities by the administration itself.
Members of specialized task forces within the FBI play key roles in combating cartels smuggling fentanyl and firearms into communities and have contributed significantly to recent convictions against organized crime figures like members of La Cosa Nostra in New York. The Joint Terrorism Task Force also operates nationally under the FBI's leadership.
Attorney General James and her colleagues call on Congress to intervene swiftly against what they describe as an attack on law enforcement integrity, urging them first to recall Mr. Patel before the Senate Judiciary Committee for further questioning prior to any confirmation vote.
Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington joined Attorney General James in this initiative.