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The FBI has fired more than a dozen agents who were photographed kneeling during racial justice protests in Washington after the 2020 death of George Floyd, according to people familiar with the matter. Some of the agents had initially been reassigned last year, but were later terminated. Sources say the total number of fired employees is around 20. Why Kneeling Sparked Debate The agents were seen taking a knee during protests that erupted nationwide following Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police. While some inside the FBI viewed the action as a show of solidarity with demonstrators, others said it was a possible de-escalation tactic to calm tensions. However, the gesture later drew criticism within the bureau, as per AP report. FBI Agents Association Condemns Move The FBI Agents Association confirmed that the firings included veterans with statutory protections and called the decision “unlawful.” The group accused FBI Director Kash Patel of violating the agents’ constitutional rights and urged Congress to investigate. “Rather than providing fair treatment and due process, Patel ignored the law,” the association said in a statement. Last month, at least five other senior agents and executives were also removed, fueling concerns about morale inside the agency. Those ousted included officials who had overseen high-profile investigations, such as the Capitol riot of January 6 and probes involving former President Donald Trump. Lawsuits And Political Concerns Several of the fired agents, including Steve Jensen and Brian Driscoll, have filed lawsuits claiming the dismissals were politically motivated. They allege Patel admitted privately that the firings might be “illegal” but said the White House and Justice Department pushed for them. Patel, however, denied those claims during a recent congressional hearing, insisting that agents were dismissed only for failing to meet FBI standards. (With inputs from AP) Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
