FBI Dismisses Agents for Kneeling with Protesters Amid George Floyd Protests
Agents of the FBI have been dismissed after being photographed kneeling with protesters in Washington, D.C., during the racial justice demonstrations that erupted following George Floyd's death in 2020. Reports indicate that the number of agents terminated could exceed 20, including some senior officials.
While the FBI has not confirmed the exact figures, the FBI Agents Association, which advocates for bureau employees, stated that over a dozen agents, many of whom are military veterans, were among those fired. The association criticized the actions taken by FBI leadership, claiming that the dismissals violated the agents' constitutional rights and due process.
“Rather than providing these agents with fair treatment and due process, Patel chose to again violate the law by ignoring these agents’ constitutional and legal rights instead of following the requisite process,” the association's statement read.
The kneeling incident occurred on June 4, 2020, as a de-escalation tactic during a protest where demonstrators outnumbered law enforcement. This approach mirrored actions taken by National Guard members earlier in the protests. Critics have since used images of the kneeling agents to argue that the FBI exhibits a liberal bias.
In response to the unrest, then-President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Bill Barr to restore order. Barr subsequently directed the FBI and other agencies to assist in crowd control and safeguard federal properties.
Despite the public outcry, an internal review concluded that the agents had not breached any specific policies, leading to no disciplinary measures at that time. However, FBI Director Kash Patel has since committed to eliminating perceived political bias within the agency, resulting in numerous terminations and resignations.
In a related development, former Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll Jr. and two other dismissed senior officials filed a lawsuit alleging their firings were politically motivated and part of an effort to transform the FBI into a tool for the White House. The suit names Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others as defendants.
Patel has refuted claims that any dismissals were politically driven, asserting that those let go did not meet the bureau's standards. He conveyed this message during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee meeting.
