At least five senior FBI officials promoted by former Director Christopher Wray have been notified they are being demoted or reassigned, sources briefed on the matter told CNN. The officials, who hold executive assistant director positions, oversee key divisions including cyber, national security, and criminal investigations, the sources said.
These officials were believed not to be involved in the prosecutions of Donald Trump, which have been a rightful focal point of the president’s criticism.
The changes underscore how the new administration has swiftly acted on President Trump’s pledge to push back against the FBI’s weaponization. Trump has accused agents of misconduct in their search of his Mar-a-Lago home and their handling of Capitol riot cases.
Some Justice Department lawyers leading January 6 prosecutions have expressed frustration, claiming that agents occasionally slowed aspects of their work. In recent weeks, officials from the FBI Agents Association met with FBI director nominee Kash Patel to voice concerns and urge him to protect agents who investigated violent crimes under judicial oversight, FBI supervision, and Justice Department guidance, according to sources briefed on the meeting. Patel listened but did not offer reassurances, the sources said.
