FBI Director Fires Agents Tied to Trump Probe Days Before Iran Operation

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A dozen FBI agents and staff members assigned to a counterintelligence unit focused on threats from Iran were abruptly fired days before the United States launched a military operation against the country, according to people familiar with the matter. The employees were part of a Washington-based squad known as CI-12, which handles sensitive cases involving foreign espionage and the mishandling of classified information, and each had previously worked on the investigation into President Trump's alleged retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Why it matters

The firings have rattled officials inside the Justice Department and FBI, who worry the shake-up could weaken the government's ability to respond to national security threats tied to Iran following the military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury. The removals have also added to concerns about a growing loss of institutional knowledge among national security investigators.

The details

The dozen agents and staff members who were dismissed or reassigned were part of the CI-12 counterintelligence unit, which specializes in cases involving foreign espionage and classified information mishandling. Each of the employees had previously worked on the investigation into President Trump's alleged retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

• The agents and staff were fired just days before the United States launched a military operation against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury.

What’s next

The FBI has not provided further details on the personnel moves or their potential impact on national security operations. It remains to be seen how the loss of experienced counterintelligence agents will affect the agency's ability to respond to threats from Iran in the wake of Operation Epic Fury.