The FBI has fired several analysts linked to a controversial 2023 intelligence memo that warned of potential violence from Catholic extremists, according to their lawyer. The terminations, which occurred on Friday, are part of a broader personnel shakeup under Director Kash Patel, a loyalist of former President Donald Trump.
Details of the Firings
The fired employees include four intelligence analysts and one supervisory analyst. Their lawyer, David Laufman, described the action as "manifestly unjust" and said it "subverts standard FBI policy and procedure." He added that the analysts deserved better for their "exceptional and faithful public service." The FBI declined to comment on the matter.
Background of the 2023 Memo
The memo, produced in January 2023 by analysts in the FBI's Richmond, Virginia, field office, became a political flashpoint. It examined a potential link between what it termed "Radical Traditionalist Catholic" ideology and racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism. Republicans in Congress cited it as evidence that the FBI under President Joe Biden targeted conservatives.
Then-FBI Director Chris Wray denied those allegations, and the bureau quickly retracted the document, launching an internal review. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was "appalled" by the memo. Justice Department investigations later criticized the analytical tradecraft but found no intentional misconduct.
Broader Personnel Purge
The firings are part of a wider purge under Patel, who has pushed out dozens of employees perceived as disloyal or involved in investigations into Trump. The Justice Department has also conducted sweeping firings of prosecutors since Trump's second presidency began in early 2025. In February, the FBI fired counterintelligence agents who worked on the investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Internal Review Findings
An internal FBI review, based on interviews with 26 people, found that all individuals involved in the memo failed to adhere to analytic tradecraft standards. The review noted that the document equated religious interest with violent extremism without sufficient evidence, creating the appearance of investigative activity based on religious affiliation. However, a 2024 Justice Department inspector general report found no evidence of malicious intent or improper purpose.
MSNBC earlier reported the firings.
