James Dennehy, the head of the FBI’s New York field office, has been forced to step down just weeks after he encouraged his colleagues to “stand firm” in response to a request from the Trump administration. The administration had sought the names of all FBI agents who investigated cases related to the January 6 Capitol riot, raising concerns about political interference within the bureau.
Dennehy’s Sudden Exit
On Monday, Dennehy confirmed in an internal email that he had been ordered to retire immediately.
“Late Friday, I was informed that I needed to put my retirement papers in today, which I just did,” he wrote, adding that he was not given any reason for his removal.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Dennehy was given a stark choice: resign or be fired. His dismissal follows an email he sent last month after the Trump-led Justice Department, under acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, demanded a list of FBI employees who had worked on criminal cases involving Trump supporters charged in connection with the Capitol attack.
Dennehy had warned his colleagues that the bureau was under attack.
“Today, we find ourselves in the middle of a battle of our own, as good people are being removed from the FBI for simply doing their jobs according to the law,” he wrote. “It’s time to stand our ground.”
Retaliation or Reform?
Dennehy’s forced departure is part of a broader shake-up within the FBI, which has seen at least eight senior officials dismissed in recent weeks. Many of them were involved in investigations related to Trump and his allies.
Inside the FBI, there are growing fears that these removals signal the start of a purge. Some believe that without Dennehy’s resistance, the Trump administration might have moved to fire thousands of agents involved in Jan. 6-related cases.
Dennehy also played a key role in the high-profile corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. Following Adams’ indictment last year, Dennehy stood firm, emphasizing that public corruption erodes trust in government.
However, last month, federal prosecutors in New York were ordered to drop the case against Adams. In protest, seven prosecutors resigned, alleging political interference. They claimed the charges were dismissed in exchange for Adams supporting Trump’s immigration policies—an accusation both Adams’ legal team and the Justice Department have denied.
Concerns Over FBI Independence
Dennehy’s removal has heightened concerns about the Trump administration’s growing influence over federal law enforcement. Since returning to office, Trump has appointed Kash Patel as FBI Director and Dan Bongino as Deputy Director. Patel, a longtime Trump loyalist, has promised that “all FBI employees will be protected from political retaliation,” yet his first week in office saw multiple high-ranking officials removed.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and right-wing commentator, has controversially claimed that the FBI staged the Jan. 6 attack—a stance that has alarmed career agents. Meanwhile, Ed Martin, a known “Stop the Steal” supporter and Trump nominee for U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., has demoted several prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases.
Dennehy’s forced resignation marks another major shift in how the FBI operates under the new administration. Legal experts warn that the Justice Department’s independence could be at risk, with growing fears that Trump may use law enforcement as a tool to target his political opponents.
In his farewell message, Dennehy urged his colleagues to uphold the values of the FBI.
“As I leave today, I take great pride in having worked with professionals who will always seek the truth, uphold the rule of law, and remain independent,” he wrote.
His final words echoed a promise to continue fighting for the FBI’s integrity—even from outside its ranks.
