Former Officials Condemn FBI Purge by Directors Patel, Bongino

FBI Director Kash Patel, under President Donald Trump's administration, has initiated a controversial purge of senior FBI officials, including Brian Driscoll, Michael Feinberg, and Walter Giardina, citing misconduct and political bias in investigations such as those related to January 6 and the Russia collusion inquiry. Patel has also uncovered and declassified sensitive documents from the 2016 Trump-Russia investigation, supporting claims of government misconduct and the improper use of the Steele dossier, which he asserts was a fabricated tool used to spy on Trump's campaign. This purge and the discovery of documents have drawn sharp criticism from a group of over 300 former intelligence, diplomatic, and national security officials calling themselves "The Steady State," who accuse Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino of dismantling the FBI's independence and turning it into a political enforcement arm loyal to Trump. The critics argue that Patel and Bongino lack the qualifications to lead the FBI and view the firings as politically motivated retribution against agents not loyal to Trump. Supporters of Patel highlight his role in exposing the Russia collusion hoax and see the purge as necessary to remove corrupt elements and restore integrity to the bureau. The debate underscores ongoing tensions within the FBI and broader national security community over the agency's role and political influence during the Trump administration.