Latest news with #FBIAgentsAssociation
Sky News AU
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
FBI demotes agents who took a knee during Washington DC Black Lives Matter protests in 2020: report
The FBI has reassigned several agents who were photographed kneeling during protests over the killing of George Floyd nearly five years ago, according to a report. The agents took a knee – a gesture to express dissent against perceived racial injustices – during Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC, in June of 2020. At least four of the kneelers were reassigned to positions widely viewed as demotions, according to the Washington Post. The transferred agents previously held senior roles in counterintelligence, counterterrorism and cybercrimes, the outlet reported. They were not given a reason for their transfers, according to the publication. The decision by the agents to take a knee was viewed by some as necessary to de-escalate the demonstration – as several Floyd-related protests turned violent that summer – and by others as a political statement. 'Those agents were not ever trained to be in that situation,' a former agent familiar with the matter told the Washington Post. 'Riot control is not our mission. We are trained to de-escalate.'' The FBI Agents Association reportedly rewarded the kneelers with $100 gift cards for their actions during the protest. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) claimed in 2023 that he had learned some of the kneeling agents received 'plum personnel opportunities and promotions and advancements' from the bureau. 'Many FBI personnel we were trusting to be on the front lines were photographed kneeling in surrender to people who at times were violent,' Gaetz told Fox News at the time. 'To climb the ladder in federal employment, you shouldn't have to shimmy up the woke totem pole,' he added, describing the behavior of the agents as 'demoralizing.' 'The purpose of law enforcement is to keep people safe, not to engage in politics,' Gaetz argued. 'And for the last several years, we've seen the FBI more interested in virtue signaling and political activity than in just the nuts and bolts in evaluating the facts and the law.' The Trump administration has reportedly moved to investigate, reassign and oust several senior FBI officials, including those involved in the raid of President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence and the investigation of Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot participants. The FBI declined to comment on personnel matters. Originally published as FBI demotes agents who took a knee during Washington DC Black Lives Matter protests in 2020: report
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kash Patel privately agreed to hire an experienced deputy FBI director. Then Trump picked a loyalist
FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly privately agreed with an FBI agent advocacy group to install an active Special Agent to serve as deputy director – only to have President Donald Trump choose an inexperienced and controversial loyalist. Members of the FBI Agents Association, a nonprofit that supports and advocates for more than 14,000 active and retired agents, received a memo, obtained by NBC News, that claimed Patel had agreed with the group that, 'the FBI Deputy Director should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent— as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population.' Patel, who was sworn in as head of the federal law enforcement agency last week, is a known Trump loyalist who has no prior experience in the FBI. His agreement with the FBI Agents Association was seemingly a way to balance his lack of experience with a current Special Agent. But instead, Trump appointed Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and right-wing podcaster who has previously critcized FBI leadership and often uses derogatory language to describe liberals. Bongino, who has no experience in the FBI, left the Secret Service in 2011 and has since become a loud advocate for Trump. He echoed Trump's false claims of election fraud after the 2020 presidential election. Like Patel, Bongino has claimed the FBI has become weaponized and needs to be fixed from the inside out. Bongino has argued the bureau focuses too much on domestic intelligence gathering, despite its purpose being domestic matters. Now, Patel and Bongino will lead the FBI at a crucial time for the bureau undergoing massive changes. So far, at least six senior FBI officials have been ousted as well as dozens of heads of FBI field offices. Previous deputy directors have all been active special agents upon designation to deputy director. That includes Andrew McCabe who served under Trump's first administration, David Bowdich and Paul Abbate who served under former president Joe Biden and the current acting deputy Robert Kissane. The Independent has asked the FBI Agents Association for comment. FBIAA did not immediately release a statement about Bongino's appointment but previously congratulated Patel on his confirmation as director. 'As the new leadership team considers and implements reform measures, the FBIAA stands ready to serve as a valuable resource, ensuring that Special Agents can continue safeguarding the American people from emerging threats while upholding the Constitution,' FBIAA said in a statement about Patel.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Kash Patel privately agreed to hire an experienced deputy FBI director. Then Trump picked a loyalist
FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly privately agreed with an FBI agent advocacy group to install an active Special Agent to serve as deputy director – only to have President Donald Trump choose an inexperienced and controversial loyalist. Members of the FBI Agents Association, a nonprofit that supports and advocates for more than 14,000 active and retired agents, received a memo, obtained by NBC News, that claimed Patel had agreed with the group that, 'the FBI Deputy Director should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent— as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population.' Patel, who was sworn in as head of the federal law enforcement agency last week, is a known Trump loyalist who has no prior experience in the FBI. His agreement with the FBI Agents Association was seemingly a way to balance his lack of experience with a current Special Agent. But instead, Trump appointed Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and right-wing podcaster who has previously critcized FBI leadership and often uses derogatory language to describe liberals. Bongino, who has no experience in the FBI, left the Secret Service in 2011 and has since become a loud advocate for Trump. He echoed Trump's false claims of election fraud after the 2020 presidential election. Like Patel, Bongino has claimed the FBI has become weaponized and needs to be fixed from the inside out. Bongino has argued the bureau focuses too much on domestic intelligence gathering, despite its purpose being domestic matters. Now, Patel and Bongino will lead the FBI at a crucial time for the bureau undergoing massive changes. So far, at least six senior FBI officials have been ousted as well as dozens of heads of FBI field offices. Previous deputy directors have all been active special agents upon designation to deputy director. That includes Andrew McCabe who served under Trump's first administration, David Bowdich and Paul Abbate who served under former president Joe Biden and the current acting deputy Robert Kissane. FBIAA did not immediately release a statement about Bongino's appointment but previously congratulated Patel on his confirmation as director. 'As the new leadership team considers and implements reform measures, the FBIAA stands ready to serve as a valuable resource, ensuring that Special Agents can continue safeguarding the American people from emerging threats while upholding the Constitution,' FBIAA said in a statement about Patel.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
FBI veterans say new bureau deputy director has worrying lack of experience
FBI veterans say new bureau deputy director has worrying lack of experience Show Caption Hide Caption Do Trump supporters want a third term? We asked CPAC attendees. President Donald Trump and members of his inner-circles have talked about getting a third term. President Donald Trump's announcement of a rightwing media figure as the FBI's deputy director has some bureau veterans worried that the new second-in-command lacks the experience to help lead a key agency responsible for keeping Americans safe. The selection of Dan Bongino also has fueled criticism from Democrats and some on the right about the direction Trump is taking the bureau. Bongino hasn't worked at the FBI before. He served as a police officer in New York City and spent 12 years with the Secret Service, leaving the agency 14 years ago and rising to fame as a conservative pundit. He hosts "The Dan Bongino Show," a popular podcast and syndicated radio program. Trump appointed Kash Patel, a close ally who has been deeply critical of the FBI, to lead the bureau, prompting Democrats to complain he is weakening the agency's independence and could use it seek retribution against political enemies. Patel also has no FBI experience. The FBI Agents Association, a non-profit organization representing current and retired agents, urged him to appoint an experienced agent as his top deputy, a position that often handles much of the agency's day-to-day operations. The deputy director position has traditionally been filled internally from the ranks of the FBI, according to an FBI Agents Association internal newsletter obtained by USA TODAY. "The FBI Deputy Director should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population," the Agents Association told Patel, according to the newsletter. The FBI has roughly 38,000 employees who work on federal criminal investigations, counterterrorism efforts and counterintelligence programs, among other key functions performed by the bureau. John Pistole rose through the agency, holding multiple management positions, before becoming the deputy director in 2004 and serving in the role for nearly six years. He believes the job should have been filled by someone within the bureau, noting deputy directors typically have decades of agency experience. Pistole wondered if there could be a "crisis of confidence" when the agency's top leadership doesn't have experience running the bureau, and said it could create a challenge in a crisis situation. 'Unfortunately, it's probably a high-risk situation if he's not up to that task," Pistole said of Bongino. Trump allies, meanwhile, argued Patel and Bongino represent a necessary course correction for an agency that has gone off track. U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Tx, echoed Trump's claims that the FBI has been "turned into a political weapon." "I believe President Trump has assembled these American patriots who will eliminate the corruption within the organization and restore public confidence," Nehls, a stalwart Trump supporter, told USA TODAY. Trump has appointed a string of outsiders to lead key agencies as he pushes an aggressive overhaul of the federal government. The president has been particularly focused on the justice system, which he staunchly criticized over its handling of criminal cases against him and the investigation into accusations his 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Bongino is "a highly-qualified former NYPD police officer and U.S. Secret Service agent" who will work with Patel "to bring law and order, fairness, and justice back to America." Trump allies are cheering Bongino's appointment. Leading MAGA figures such as Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, and former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who withdrew as Trump's attorney general nominee amid controversy, celebrated Bongino's appointment on social media. Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, described Bongino as "an exceptional patriot" and praised his efforts to push back against accusations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in 2016. "He was one of the leading voices exposing the FBI for its abuses during RussiaGate and will do an amazing job as Deputy FBI director," Kirk told USA TODAY. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who formerly served as FBI director, found that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election in "sweeping and systematic fashion." "While the investigation identified numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign, the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges," the Mueller report states. Pistole and other FBI veterans worry that Bongino doesn't have the internal knowledge or management experience to run such a large organization tasked with important national security and domestic crime-fighting functions. 'The day-to-day operations is what the deputy director has his finger on the pulse of and acts as the advisor to the director,' said Kenneth Gray, who spent 24 years with the FBI and now teaches criminal justice at the University of New Haven. 'If you don't know how the organization works how do you advise?' Other critics view the appointment as a worrisome sign about Trump's intentions for the agency. Greg Nunziata, a former GOP Senate aide who now runs the Society for the Rule of Law, said on social media that Bongino is part of the Trump administration "turning federal law enforcement over to unqualified, unprincipled, partisan henchmen." "It's unacceptable and conservatives need to say so," he added. U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, described Bongino on social media as 'another loyalist who won't say no to any immoral or unethical act.' After leaving the Secret Service, Bongino made three failed runs for Congress before building his media brand. He once hosted shows for Fox News and for the National Rifle Association's defunct TV platform. Bongino has staunchly defended Trump as a conservative pundit, amplified unfounded concerns about election fraud after Trump lost in 2020 and recently said the president should 'ignore' a court order in a lawsuit challenging one of his administration's early moves. Recent Bongino show titles include 'The Golden Age of Republican Politics' and 'Trump Keeps Delivering and the Libs Are Seething.' In picking Bongino for the FBI deputy director job, Trump again is emphasizing loyalty and MAGA credentials over experience. Bongino's lack of experience is particularly problematic for the position he will fill, Gray said. The FBI director often is consumed with the external aspects of running the agency, while the deputy director manages the internal operations. Appointing Bongino could hurt morale and sends a signal to agents that 'their opinions don't matter,' Gray said. Trump has signaled he wants to overhaul the FBI, though. He has complained without evidence that federal law enforcement agencies were 'weaponized' against him. The Trump administration already has forced out the FBI's senior leadership, and Bongino's appointment may be a sign that more big changes are coming. Pistole hopes the agency stays out of the political fray. 'I don't think the FBI is, or should be, a political arm of the White House,' Pistole said. 'It needs to be as independent as possible. It needs to be focused on upholding the laws or the rule of law.' Contributing: Bart Jansen and Joey Garrison
WIRED
24-02-2025
- Politics
- WIRED
How Dan Bongino Went From InfoWars to FBI Deputy Director
Feb 24, 2025 4:29 PM Dan Bongino rose through the ranks of right-wing media thanks to his unflinching loyalty to Donald Trump and willingness to push baseless conspiracies—including about the FBI. Photograph: TheDan Bongino has spent the last decade building a career in right-wing media based on his sycophantic support of President Donald Trump and his willingness to engage in endless conspiracy theories about everything from COVID-19 and the 2020 elections to the FBI, which he has said should no longer exist in its current form. 'The FBI is no longer a law enforcement entity,' Bongino wrote on X in 2023. 'It is an oppo research firm for Democrats with an armed political enforcement branch.' He also wrote previously that he wants to 'disband the FBI' and boosted conspiracy theories about its role in the Capitol insurrection. 'I don't trust these people at all,' Bongino wrote under a Facebook video about the agency last year. On Sunday night, Trump announced on Truth Social that Bongino had been appointed as the agency's deputy director. Bongino, who previously served as a police officer in New York and as a Secret Service agent protecting former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, has no FBI experience—a trait he shares with Kash Patel, the QAnon-promoting Trump loyalist who was last week confirmed as the new director of the FBI. The deputy director role, which oversees day-to-day operations of the bureau, has typically gone to an experienced FBI agent. According to NBC reporting, the FBI Agents Association recently issued a memo to members stating, in part, 'The FBI Deputy Director should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent—as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons.' Reporter Ken Dilanian posted on X that the message also stated that Patel had 'privately agreed' with this. Neither the FBI Agents Association nor a spokesperson for Patel immediately responded to a request for comment. Instead, the position has gone to Bongino, a Trump loyalist who has in the past referred to the president as 'an apex predator.' A three-time failed congressional candidate, he has risen from the fringes of the online conspiracy community to become one of the most prominent voices in right wing media, leveraging online platforms, as well as appearances on Fox News, to push wild conspiracy theories about the agency he will now help to oversee and about the government generally. (He has written a book called Follow the Money: The Shocking Deep State Connections of the Anti-Trump Cabal .) A claimed proponent of free speech, Bongino is prone to rants and tirades against anyone who criticizes him, and he regularly blocks his critics on social media. "Dan Bongino is a Trump sycophant whose focus has been delegitimizing any and all legal steps taken against the president and his allies,' Matt Gertz, a senior fellow at media watchdog Media Matters who has tracked Bongino's career closely, tells WIRED. 'Bongino's appointment hammers home that Trump is building a federal law enforcement team that will carry out his desires to punish his political enemies: You don't select a bomb-throwing podcaster who has declared that 'owning the libs' is his sole focus in life to help run the FBI if you're aiming for an impartial bureau.' Bongino served full-time in the NYPD from 1997 to 1999 before joining the Secret Service. He left in 2011 to pursue a political career, running for Senate as a Republican in Maryland in 2012. At the time, his opinion of his former employer was still very positive. 'The president was a wonderful guy,' Bongino said of Obama in 2011. 'From what I saw he was a wonderful father and a wonderful man and he was very, very nice and very kind to me.' In a memoir published in 2013, Bongino added that Obama was 'one of a group of men I would have gladly sacrificed my life for.' Around the same time, though, Bongino began to take his first steps on a path that would ultimately lead him to becoming one of the biggest podcasters in the US. In 2013 he appeared on Infowars, where he spoke to Alex Jones about the then-recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. After Jones said that it's 'so over the top how authoritarian the Democrats have become,' in relation to the response school shootings, Bongino replied that Democrats aren't crisis managers but are instead 'crisis leveraging [and] using a national emotional crisis to get you to believe things that simply aren't true.' A decade later Jones would be ordered by a court to liquidate his assets to pay the families of the victims of the shooting $1.5 billion. Bongino made multiple appearances on Jones show in the run up to his second failed congressional tilt in 2014, this time losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. John Delaney in Maryland's 6th Congressional district. During one of his Infowars appearances, Bongino boosted the conspiracy theory that CIA agents were told to stand down during the terrorist attacks on the US Special Mission and Annex in Benghazi, Libya. Bongino began his own podcast, The Dan Bongino Show , in 2015, and a year later made his third attempt at winning a seat in Congress, this time in Florida's 19th Congressional District. Just a week before the vote, Bongino was recorded having a full on meltdown while speaking to a reporter from Politico, whom he called 'a real disgusting piece of shit.' In 2018 Bongino was handed his own 30-minute show on the National Rifle Association's station, NRATV. Bongino used his show to continuously hammer the work being conducted by special counsel—and former FBI director—Robert Mueller, who was at the time investigating Trump and allegations that Russia interfered with the 2016 election. Bongino pushed the conspiracy theory that the Trump campaign was being spied on, a situation he dubbed 'spygate' and called 'the biggest scandal in American history.' During one show, discussing the pushback against the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Bongino said, 'My entire life right now is about owning the libs. That's it. The libs…have shown themselves through this Kavanaugh abomination of a process to be … pure unadulterated evil.' His robust defense of Trump caught the attention of producers at Fox, who booked him hundreds of times during this period, and it appears to be at this point that Trump first took notice of Bongino. In June 2018, Trump quoted Bongino in two posts on Twitter after Bongino appeared on Fox & Friends slamming then CIA director John Brennan. Bongino connected with Trump, the Daily Beast reported in October 2018, writing that Trump spoke to his aides about 'malicious influences inside the FBI', citing Bongino as the source of his information. Bongino's NRATV show lasted less than a year, and in December 2018 when it was announced his show was ending, Bongino reacted to critics saying he had been fired and poking fun at his demise. A month later, Fox News signed Bongino as a contributor despite the fact that he had been reportedly barred from the set of Shannon Bream's show on the station for becoming 'unglued' during a recording. In 2021, Bongino became a Fox News host, with a Saturday night show called Unfiltered , which he used to become one of the loudest voices pushing election denial conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. He also used the platform to push the great replacement conspiracy theory and COVID-19 conspiracy theories. Bongino regularly railed against what he considered to be government overreach in relation to mask and vaccine mandates. During the attack on the Capitol, Bongino was temporarily suspended from Twitter for posting a video originally shared by Trump, and in the days after the attack raged about the decision to remove the messaging app Parler, in which he was an investor, from app stores In 2022, YouTube finally took action against Bongino, who used to post his podcast on the platform, permanently banning him for spreading COVID-19 disinformation. However Facebook continued to allow him to use their platform, where he had built up a massive audience, to promote his conspiracy theories. Bongino left Fox News in 2023, but has continued to grow his podcast on the alternative video streaming site Rumble, to which Vice President JD Vance has ties and in which he is an investor. While Bongino has not been as vocal a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory as his boss, he has boosted QAnon figures in the past, and his supporters on pro-Trump and conspiracy channels have been cheering his new role. These supporters claim that he and Patel will finally unmask the 'deep state'—a supposed group of government officials they believe have been waging a secret war on Trump. 'Trump has brought together the dream team, the Avengers,' one prominent QAnon promoter wrote. 'Get your popcorn ready.'
