The FBI Staffers Kash Patel Ousted Because They Worked on Mar-a-Lago Probe Had Iran Expertise: Report

"FBI Director Kash Patel fired at least a dozen counterintelligence staffers at the FBI mere days before the U.S. strikes on Iran, despite their relevant expertise, because they had also previously worked on the investigation into the classified documents at President Donald Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago, according to a report by the New York Sun."

"The ousted staffers included agents and personnel from a counterintelligence unit called CI-12 in the FBI's Washington Field Office, and the firings were ordered directly by Patel. Their work focused on media leaks, global espionage, and threats that included those involving the Iranian regime."

"More broadly, CI squads are the lead domestic teams for investigating insider threats and foreign intelligence activity on American soil. The reason the CI-12 staffers were fired was because they had previously been assigned, in some capacity, to the Justice Department's investigation into Mr. Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago."

FBI Director Kash Patel dismissed at least a dozen counterintelligence personnel from CI-12, a unit in the FBI's Washington Field Office, just days before U.S. military strikes on Iran. The fired staffers possessed expertise in media leaks, global espionage, and Iranian regime threats. Counterintelligence squads serve as the primary domestic teams investigating insider threats and foreign intelligence operations. Patel ordered the dismissals directly because these personnel had previously been assigned to the Justice Department's investigation into classified documents found at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence during the Biden administration. The timing coincided with an Austin shooting incident involving Iranian-related symbolism. Patel had recently claimed that Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and the FBI improperly obtained his phone records and those of Trump aide Susie Wiles during investigations into Mar-a-Lago and January 6.

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