Latest news with #Auten
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kash Patel Suspends FBI Analyst He Put on ‘Deep State' Enemies List
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has suspended an analyst whom Director Kash Patel included on a 'deep state' enemies list in one of his books, according to multiple reports. The agency placed Brian Auten, an expert on Russia, on administrative leave last week but did not divulge the reason for the suspension. Reached for comment, the FBI told the Daily Beast that it does not comment on personnel matters. In his book, Government Gangsters, Patel placed Auten on a list of 60 officials whom the MAGA loyalist deemed agents of the 'deep state.' It also features former FBI Directors James Comey and Christopher Wray. Auten was included because of his role in two major investigations. He was one of a number of FBI officials disciplined for mistakes during the agency's probe into ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia over concerns about election interference. The New York Times reported that Auten was suspended for 30 days after the investigation. He was also involved in analyzing information on a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden that critics of former President Joe Biden say included evidence of corruption. In his book, Patel wrote, 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the F.B.I. and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' He also accused Auten of downplaying the importance of the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. The Justice Department's inspector general found that no FBI officials were motivated by political bias during the Russia investigation. Patel, who was an adviser to Trump during his first term, was a controversial choice for FBI director, in part due to his history of pushing conspiracy theories. During his confirmation hearing, he pushed back on the allegation that the list in his book was an 'enemies list,' telling senators that that was 'a total mischaracterization.' He also vowed, under oath, that 'there will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI, should I be confirmed as FBI director.' Under Trump and Patel, the FBI has pushed out many of its senior leaders, who oversaw the investigations into Trump for the Jan. 6 insurrection and mishandling classified documents, and has now suspended Auten. The Times reported that Auten was previously moved out of the counterintelligence division after Patel took the agency's reins.
NBC News
12-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
FBI analyst targeted in Kash Patel's book placed on leave
The FBI has placed an analyst on leave whose name was on a list of "Deep State actors" in a book written by FBI Director Kash Patel, two people familiar with the matter told NBC News. This was first reported by the New York Times. It's unclear what reason the FBI gave for the move, and the agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brian Auten, a Russia expert, was the employee who was placed on leave. He was also among the FBI employees recommended for discipline by former FBI Director Christopher Wray over mistakes made in connection with the 2017 investigation into links between then-candidate Donald Trump and the Russian government. A later review by the Justice Department inspector general found no evidence that any FBI employee acted out of political bias in the Russia investigation. Patel included Auten on a list of roughly 60 "Deep State actors" in his 2023 book, "Government Gangsters." Patel denounced the FBI analyst by name, writing: 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the FBI and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' Patel also accused Auten of downplaying information found on the laptop of former President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The FBI director has disputed that the list in his book is an enemies list. Patel has his own links to the 2017 investigation into ties between President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian government. At the start of Trump's first term, Patel worked for then-Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., as a staffer on the GOP-led House Intelligence Committee. In that role, Patel authored a memo accusing the FBI of making mistakes when it obtained a warrant to conduct surveillance of Carter Page, one of Trump's campaign advisors at the time.
Observer
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Observer
FBI suspends employee on Patel's so-called enemies list
The FBI has suspended an analyst on Kash Patel's so-called enemies list after Patel told lawmakers that the bureau under his leadership would stay out of the political fray and not punish employees for partisan reasons. Last week, the bureau placed the analyst, Brian Auten, on administrative leave, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation. The reasons for the suspension remain unclear. The suspension is likely to raise questions about whether the move was retaliatory, and about how closely Patel would stick to his promise, made during his confirmation hearing in January, that the agency would rise above partisanship despite pressure from President Donald Trump's allies to fire employees who took part in investigations that conservatives have condemned. The suspension of Auten, who had already been disciplined and questioned in a criminal inquiry, will also likely intensify distrust of Patel among employees who have watched senior leaders forced out in recent months with no explanation. Auten worked on two major investigations that angered Trump and Patel, including the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election. He was also involved in analysing the information found on Hunter Biden's laptop, a discovery that roiled the 2020 presidential campaign. Patel has called the Russia investigation a hoax, and singled out Auten in his book, 'Government Gangsters.' In the book, Patel claimed that the FBI was trying to 'hide and spin' what he called 'the Biden family corruption' buried in the laptop, even as agents investigated the matter. 'Government Gangsters' also included a list of 60 names in an appendix called 'Members of the Executive Branch Deep State.' Auten was among the names listed in the appendix. At his confirmation hearing, Patel denied that it was an enemies list. 'It's a total mischaracterisation,' he told senators. He later added: 'There will be no politicisation at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI, should I be confirmed as FBI director.' The suspension of Auten came after he and others had been disciplined for serious mistakes found in the FBI's applications for a secret surveillance warrant involving a former Trump campaign adviser. Auten played an important role in unmasking the primary source behind a dossier of rumours and unproven assertions about Trump. The surveillance warrant applications relied in part on the dossier that Auten had examined extensively. In the wake of the Russia investigation, known as Crossfire Hurricane, Auten had been suspended for 30 days, people said. After Patel became director, Auten was moved out of the counterintelligence division, one of the people said. In his book, Patel denounced Auten. 'Yet just like his superiors, Auten has faced no real accountability in light of these findings,' he wrote. 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the FBI and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' The Justice Department's inspector general found that FBI officials had sufficient reason to open Crossfire Hurricane, and did not find evidence that the inquiry was politically motivated. 'We did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced' officials' decision to open the investigation, the report said. John H. Durham, the special counsel appointed by Trump to scrutinise the Russia investigation, said in his final report that 'as an initial matter, there is no question that the FBI had an affirmative obligation to closely examine' the tip that prompted the investigation. But Durham accused the FBI of 'confirmation bias.' In 2020, The New York Post reported on the laptop once used by Biden, writing that it contained damning evidence against him and his father, Joe Biden, who was running for president. In his book, Patel criticised Auten's role in the episode, claiming that he tried to 'discredit any derogatory information about Hunter Biden by falsely claiming that none of it was true.'
New York Times
11-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
F.B.I. Suspends Bureau Employee on Patel's So-Called Enemies List
The F.B.I. has suspended an analyst on Kash Patel's so-called enemies list after Mr. Patel told lawmakers that the bureau under his leadership would stay out of the political fray and not punish employees for partisan reasons. Last week, the bureau placed the analyst, Brian Auten, on administrative leave, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation. The reasons for the suspension remain unclear. The F.B.I. declined to comment. A lawyer for Mr. Auten also declined to comment. The suspension is likely to raise questions about whether the move was retaliatory, and about how closely Mr. Patel would stick to his promise, made during his confirmation hearing in January, that the agency would rise above partisanship despite pressure from President Trump's allies to fire employees who took part in investigations that conservatives have condemned. The suspension of Mr. Auten, who had already been disciplined and questioned in a criminal inquiry, will also likely intensify distrust of Mr. Patel among employees who have watched senior leaders forced out in recent months with no explanation. Mr. Auten worked on two major investigations that angered Mr. Trump and Mr. Patel, including the F.B.I.'s investigation into Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election. He was also involved in analyzing the information found on Hunter Biden's laptop, a discovery that roiled the 2020 presidential campaign. Mr. Patel has called the Russia investigation a hoax, and singled out Mr. Auten in his book, 'Government Gangsters.' In the book, Mr. Patel claimed that the F.B.I. was trying to 'hide and spin' what he called 'the Biden family corruption' buried in the laptop, even as agents investigated the matter. 'Government Gangsters' also included a list of 60 names in an appendix called 'Members of the Executive Branch Deep State.' Mr. Auten was among the names listed in the appendix. At his confirmation hearing, Mr. Patel denied that it was an enemies list. 'It's a total mischaracterization,' he told senators. He later added: 'There will be no politicization at the F.B.I. There will be no retributive actions taken by any F.B.I., should I be confirmed as F.B.I. director.' The suspension of Mr. Auten came after he and others had been disciplined for serious mistakes found in the F.B.I.'s applications for a secret surveillance warrant involving a former Trump campaign adviser. Mr. Auten played an important role in unmasking the primary source behind a dossier of rumors and unproven assertions about Mr. Trump. The surveillance warrant applications relied in part on the dossier that Mr. Auten had examined extensively. In the wake of the Russia investigation, known as Crossfire Hurricane, Mr. Auten had been suspended for 30 days, people said. After Mr. Patel became director, Mr. Auten was moved out of the counterintelligence division, one of the people said. In his book, Mr. Patel denounced Mr. Auten. 'Yet just like his superiors, Auten has faced no real accountability in light of these findings,' he wrote. 'The fact that Auten was not fired from the F.B.I. and prosecuted for his part in the Russia Gate conspiracy is a national embarrassment.' The Justice Department's inspector general found that F.B.I. officials had sufficient reason to open Crossfire Hurricane, and did not find evidence that the inquiry was politically motivated. 'We did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced' officials' decision to open the investigation, the report said. John H. Durham, the special counsel appointed by Mr. Trump to scrutinize the Russia investigation, said in his final report that 'as an initial matter, there is no question that the F.B.I. had an affirmative obligation to closely examine' the tip that prompted the investigation. But Mr. Durham accused the F.B.I. of 'confirmation bias.' In 2020, The New York Post reported on the laptop once used by Mr. Biden, writing that it contained damning evidence against him and his father, Joseph R. Biden Jr., who was running for president. In his book, Mr. Patel criticized Mr. Auten's role in the episode, claiming that he tried to 'discredit any derogatory information about Hunter Biden by falsely claiming that none of it was true.'
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Neoga strong': People ready to rebuild after EF-2 tornado
NEOGA, Ill. (WCIA) — 'Neoga Strong,' has been the rallying cry for many people in the community — and beyond — as they begin to rebuild in the aftermath of our first severe storm of the season. The National Weather Service said Neoga was hit by a confirmed tornado on Friday. It caused damage to the school — homes — and more, leaving people in limbo. Neoga CUSD #3 closing all schools for week following tornado damage 'I'm surprised that it happened. I'm surprised there was so much damage,' 6th grade student Amari Rivers said. On Friday the town of Neoga felt the full force of what a tornado can do. On Saturday, James Auten — a meteorologist with the National Weather Service — was out looking for damage at the school. 'It helps us in being able to validate and verify what we're seeing on radar as far as like, 'Okay, seeing rotation of this strength is going to give us this kind of wind speed.'' Auten said. Neoga School Campus damaged in tornado According to preliminary findings from the NWS, an EF-2 tornado touched down. Auten said wind pushed into the school through its weakest point: the garage. 'When the wind pushes through those and get those doors open, the wind's got to go somewhere,' Auten said. 'Either goes out the back the side or goes out the top. And obviously with the high school, it went out the top and it took off a bunch of the roof that's there.' But the school has more than just roof damage. '[The Agriculture] Department is in pieces and it hurts my soul because I spent a lot of time there,' Neoga resident Tyler Worthey said. 'A lot of my high school career was spent in the Ag Department, so it hurts to see so much damage done.' Two tractor-trailers overturn in Cumberland Co. during tornado It could have been worse. The superintendent said no one was hurt. The school hosted a dance Friday — but one student said they moved the time up 30 minutes to finish before the storm, giving him and his family enough time to get home before it hit. 'Scary. My whole family was we had mattresses over our heads trying to duck down the corner. I had such an adrenaline rush,' Rivers said. Now Neoga is looking to build themselves up again. But even when the outward signs of damage are fixed — the inward ones will be harder to mend. 'I'm just scared. I'm scared if it ever happens again,' Rivers said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
