Senior FBI officers requested to resign or retire by Trump administration, three sources mentioned

Senior FBI officers have been requested to resign or retire from high positions throughout the bureau or be fired, three sources accustomed to the strikes confirmed to CBS Information.

The senior officers at FBI headquarters — together with some with govt assistant director standing — have been chargeable for overseeing high priorities for the bureau, for example, nationwide safety, felony and cyber points, the sources mentioned.

The adjustments are a part of ongoing scrutiny of FBI management, in keeping with the sources.

CNN first reported the information. The FBI declined to remark.

The termination of the high-ranking officers got here as President Trump’s nominee to steer the FBI, Kash Patel, testified earlier than the Senate Intelligence Committee for his affirmation listening to. Patel sought to assuage issues that he would not preserve the FBI’s independence and would as a substitute observe instructions from Mr. Trump to open investigations into his political adversaries.

Patel informed senators that any legislation enforcement investigation would solely be launched on “a factual, articulable authorized foundation to take action.”

“I’d by no means do something unconstitutional or illegal and I by no means have,” Patel mentioned, including that he would “at all times obey the legislation.”

“There can be no weaponization on the FBI,” Patel promised. “There can be no retributive actions taken by any FBI ought to I be confirmed as FBI director.”

The Trump administration made related calls for final week of officers within the nationwide safety and felony division on the Justice Division.

contributed to this report.