(DDM) – New leadership shakeups have hit the Federal Bureau of Investigation after Director Kash Patel ordered the removal of at least 10 employees tied to the investigation into alleged mishandling of classified documents by President Donald Trump.
Sources briefed on the matter told CNN that the dismissals form part of a broader internal review examining actions taken during the high-profile probe. That investigation previously led to criminal charges against Trump and two of his employees over documents recovered from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The internal review reportedly began after Patel discovered records indicating that the FBI had subpoenaed his communication data during the earlier stages of the inquiry. The records also showed that agents obtained communications belonging to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The subpoenas occurred between 2022 and 2023, during a period when the classified documents investigation later came under the leadership of special counsel Jack Smith. Smith oversaw the federal prosecution that accused Trump of unlawfully retaining national defense information and obstructing government efforts to retrieve it.
Patel publicly disclosed the seizure of his records in a statement Wednesday, sharply criticizing what he described as secretive conduct by previous FBI leadership. He called the move “outrageous and deeply alarming,” arguing that the subpoenas relied on flimsy justifications and were buried in restricted case files to avoid oversight.
The development adds a new dimension to the long-running controversy surrounding the Mar-a-Lago investigation, which became one of the most politically charged federal probes in recent U.S. history. Supporters of Trump have consistently argued that law enforcement agencies unfairly targeted him, while critics maintain that the investigation followed established legal procedures.
The FBI has not publicly detailed the scope of the internal review or clarified whether additional personnel actions could follow. Legal experts note that internal accountability processes within federal law enforcement agencies often remain confidential until formal findings emerge.
The shakeup comes amid broader debates over institutional independence and political influence within federal investigative bodies. Analysts say the move signals a significant shift in tone under Patel’s leadership, particularly regarding cases connected to Trump.
As scrutiny intensifies, attention now turns to how the Justice Department and oversight bodies will respond to Patel’s allegations about subpoena practices and internal record handling.
