Over Ten FBI Agents Terminated Following Trump Classified Documents Investigation
At least ten FBI agents connected to the investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents have been fired, according to sources. The personnel were all reportedly involved in former Special Counsel Jack Smith's probe examining whether Trump concealed classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving the White House in 2021.
Dismissal of Documents Case Precedes Agent Terminations
The federal case against Trump regarding the classified documents was dismissed by a judge in 2024. However, on Wednesday, nearly a dozen agents who collaborated with Smith on this investigation were axed, as reported by CBS News. The FBI Agents Association, representing current and former agents, condemned the firings as a violation of due process and warned that the mass dismissals increase national security vulnerabilities.
'These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau's ability to meet its recruitment goals,' a statement from the association read.
Background of Smith's Investigations into Trump
Jack Smith initiated dual investigations into Trump, resulting in the first federal criminal indictments of a former U.S. president. The classified documents case alleged that Trump transported confidential materials to Mar-a-Lago post-presidency and obstructed Justice Department retrieval efforts. This case was dismissed by a Florida federal judge in mid-2024, who ruled Smith's appointment unlawful.
A second case, known as Arctic Frost, accused Trump of unlawfully attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. Smith dropped these charges after Trump's victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.
Administration Targeting of Federal Employees
The Trump administration has since targeted federal employees involved in these cases, with the Justice Department firing prosecutors from Smith's team in January of last year. An official cited distrust in these officials' ability to implement the president's agenda due to their prosecution roles.
Phone Records Subpoena Controversy
Wednesday's firings follow a Reuters report revealing the FBI subpoenaed phone records of conversations between FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Patel stated the calls occurred in 2022 and 2023, while both were private citizens during the Biden administration, amid the Trump probe.
Patel criticized the subpoena as overreach by unelected officials, calling previous leadership 'outrageous and deeply alarming' for using flimsy pretexts and evading oversight. Reuters could not verify all claims, but Patel asserted records were buried to hinder access after he assumed bureau leadership.
GOP Criticism and Democratic Defense
Controversy escalated when the GOP-led Senate Judiciary Committee disclosed FBI seizure of Republican lawmakers' phone records during the Arctic Frost investigation, showing metadata around the January 6 Capitol riot. Smith testified these records helped verify event timelines, with prosecutors following legal requirements.
GOP leaders, including Trump, demanded prosecution of Smith, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former FBI Director Christopher Wray for 'illegal and highly unethical behavior.' Conversely, Congressional Democrats defended Smith, asserting he acted properly in investigating allegations against Trump.
Legal Developments and Ongoing Secrecy
On Monday, a federal judge permanently blocked the Justice Department from releasing Smith's report on the documents investigation. Smith informed Congress that court orders prohibit discussing non-public details, maintaining secrecy around the probe's findings.
