FBI employees were ordered on Sunday to complete a questionnaire detailing any involvement they had in criminal investigations related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The move has sparked widespread concern within the agency, with many fearing that it signals a new wave of politically motivated firings under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The memo, obtained by Reuters, instructs employees to provide their job title, specify their role in the Capitol riot investigations, and disclose if they supervised any related cases. The responses are due by 3 p.m. ET on Monday.
Chad Yarbrough, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, acknowledged the unease among employees. “I know myself and others receiving this questionnaire have a lot of questions and concerns, which I am working hard to get answers to,” Yarbrough wrote in an internal email over the weekend.
The questionnaire follows a series of aggressive moves by the Trump administration. On his first day back in office, January 20, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 individuals connected to the Capitol riot and issued full pardons to others, including those who attacked law enforcement officers during the insurrection.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has also taken swift action, demanding that the FBI submit a list of all employees involved in Jan. 6 cases by Tuesday at noon.
The sudden demand for information and the firings have fueled fears of a broader purge within the FBI, especially targeting those who played key roles in investigating the events of January 6.
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