FBI senior executives are reportedly in a state of shock and anxiety following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, according to anonymous sources within the bureau. The atmosphere at the bureau headquarters is tense with the anticipation of a major restructuring under Mr. Trump’s incoming administration.
FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Director Paul Abbate are not expected to retain their positions once Mr. Trump assumes his post. The anxiety extends beyond top leadership, with sources indicating that no employee at GS-14 level or higher feels secure in their position.
There is a complicated history between Mr. Trump and the FBI. The “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation during the 2016 campaign examined potential links between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia. A whistleblower recently revealed that former FBI Director James Comey allegedly initiated an unauthorized criminal investigation of Mr. Trump when he began his first campaign in 2015.
Further strain between the president-elect and the bureau ensued after the FBI’s 2022 Mar-a-Lago search and subsequent classified documents case against Mr. Trump, which may now be in jeopardy due to his reelection. Sources also expressed concern about Elon Musk’s potential role in a government efficiency commission, suggesting that his involvement could lead to significant staffing reductions at FBI headquarters.
Many FBI agents have been focused on investigating Jan. 6 cases during the Biden administration, but Mr. Trump has promised to pardon these defendants at the start of his second term. Some bureau personnel are reportedly amused by this prospect, and others are already considering transitions to private sector security jobs in anticipation of the changes ahead.
Read more: FBI brass ’stunned’ and ’shell shocked’ over Trump reelection
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