Sunday, March 9, 2025
James Dennehy, head of the FBI's New York field office, was forced to resign after defying the Trump administration and encouraging staff to "dig in" against it.
James Dennehy, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) field office in New York, was forced to resign on Monday after encouraging staff members to "dig in" against President Donald Trump's administration. Dennehy's resignation comes after he sent an email to his staff, stating that he was informed on Friday to submit his retirement papers, which he did on Monday, without being given a reason for the decision.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Dennehy was given the opportunity to resign or be fired by the Trump administration on Friday. Dennehy had been serving as the head of the FBI's field office in New York since September. His resignation is seen as a significant move, as it comes after the Department of Justice requested the FBI to identify agents involved in the controversial January 6 cases, and the Trump administration removed certain officials from their positions at the agency last month.
Dennehy had encouraged staff members at his field office to "dig in" against the administration, stating that "good people are being walked out of the F.B.I. and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and F.B.I. policy." He also said it was "time for me to dig in" following the removal of eight FBI leaders over their involvement in various investigations into the 47th president.
In his email to his former staff members on Monday, Dennehy expressed his pride in representing an office of professionals who "will always do the right thing for the right reasons; who will always seek the truth while upholding the rule of law." Dennehy's resignation has sparked concerns about the independence of the FBI and the potential implications for the agency's investigations.
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